A 29-year-old Alabama mother was killed in a fiery crash on Highway 157, but her 7-month-old baby girl survived after a passerby rushed in to rescue her, authorities said.
The collision happened on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 7, on Highway 157, Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett shared in a social media post.
“When the crash occurred a passerby quickly attempted to aid those in the car,” Puckett wrote, explaining that thanks to the stranger’s quick actions, an infant was pulled from the burning vehicle.
The woman who died was identified as Kayleigh Page of Waterloo.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Tesla Page was driving veered off the road, struck two trees and then caught fire, local station WHNT reported. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“While the death of Kayleigh Page is incredibly tragic, without the actions of the good Samaritan, it would have been an even worse tragedy,” Puckett said, noting that the child was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.
As reported by NBC affiliate WAFF, Puckett said that even officials do not yet know the identity of the good Samaritan.
Speaking with WAFF, Brandon Sivley of Decatur Fire and Rescue explained that electric vehicles burn at far higher temperatures than conventional cars.
“The temperature at which they burn is just, it’s extraordinary. I mean, it’s normal fire, you know, times 100. It’s just unbelievable, the temperatures and, of course, the off gas that that comes with that. It’s just… It’s dangerous,” Sivley said.
Meanwhile, Ky Page, Kayleigh’s sister, is seeking donor breastmilk for her niece, Lilah-June, AL.com reported.
“I want to continue giving LJ the nourishment and comfort her mama worked SO HARD to provide,” Ky wrote on Facebook. “If anyone has donor breastmilk available or knows someone who might, it would mean more than you can imagine. ANY amount helps. Even just an extra bag.”
“Thank you for your love and support during the hardest chapter of our lives,” she added.
The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help support Lilah-June and cover expenses.
“Kayleigh’s heart was made to be a mother,” a message on the fundraiser reads. “Her greatest joy in life was loving and caring for her beautiful 7-month-old daughter, Lilah-June. Every day, she poured her whole soul into giving LJ a life full of comfort, safety, laughter, and love. The bond they shared was deep, unbreakable, and so full of the kind of love that stays with you forever.”
“Kayleigh was the most nurturing, gentle, and protective soul,” the description continues. “She was the best Mama, the best sister, and the best friend we could have asked for. Her absence leaves a void that will never be filled — but her love lives on through Lilah-June and through all the people she impacted so deeply.”
