Community rallying for 3-year-old severely injured in Easter car crash​

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – The community is rallying around the family of a 3-year-old girl severely injured in a crash on Easter Sunday.

“She’s a very feisty, very active, very energetic little girl,” said Hannah’s grandmother, Maria Mazorra.

It was just a month ago when Hannah Ahlquist was playing and laughing with family and friends.

“Hannah loves to have books read to her, she always wants Grammy, she calls me Grammy, to read her a book,” said Mazorra.

On Easter Sunday, troopers say a woman was speeding, ran through a red light at the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Davis Boulevard and slammed into the family’s SUV.

Hannah was flown by helicopter to Tampa. Doctors say she suffered a serious spinal injury that’s affected her ability to move her legs.

“We’re all devastated, but we’re pulling for her,” said Mazorra. “She’s been up in Tampa at Tampa General for a month and there’s been a lot of expenses.”

Her parents have been there with her. Hannah’s dad is a deputy with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, his colleagues hosted a barbeque outside the Government Center to raise money for the family. Dozens of people stopped by to share well wishes with Hannah’s grandmother and to donate to her medical bills.

Doctors expect she’ll require months, if not years of medical, physical and occupational therapy.

“Right now they’re in flight to Shriner’s hospital in Philadelphia which is one of the best in the nation for spinal cord injuries,” said Mazorra.

As Hannah and her family make the trip to Philadelphia, the community is sending their thoughts and prayers with them, hoping the 3-year-old will one day be able to play the way she used to.

“She’s a fighter,” said Mazorra. “She’s gonna get through this.”

The driver who ran the red light was cited for failing to stop and for driving without insurance. If you would like to help Hannah and her family, click here to donate.