A 12-year-old girl is dead and her mother is in critical condition in hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Brant County.
Brant OPP said in a statement late Wednesday that Sierra Beverly died in hospital on Monday.
She was one of four people taken to hospital following the crash just before 4:30 pm on Feb. 11 on Oakland Road, between Brant Mill Road and Walter Street, in the community of Oakland.
Two people were released after treatment of minor injuries.
Sierra’s mother, Naomi Beverly, remains in critical condition.
Naomi was driving Sierra to Tillsonburg for a sleepover at a friend’s home when their vehicle was involved with a head-on collision, Sierra’s stepfather, Larry Demelo, said in an interview Thursday.
“She loved animals,” Demelo said of Sierra.
“She had horses, a pet pig, and a pet cat. Her dog followed her everywhere and slept with her at night,” he said.
“She was a very ambitious kid and made friends wherever she went.”
Demelo said Sierra was outgoing and loved painting, drawing, music and arts and crafts.
She attended Westfield Public School in Tillsonburg, and continued online learning with the school after the family moved to Six Nations of the Grand River last July.
“The original intention was to start a farm for ourselves to be self-sufficient, but to also have a place for the kids in the community to come and experience animals.” said Demelo.
He said Naomi was writing a program that would help teach kids about gardening, farming and self-sufficiency.
He said Naomi’s condition is stable.
“All her vitals are normal, and preliminary neurological testing has come back positive,” he said. “So, she is responding well to the tests they’re doing while she’s unconscious.”
Demelo said funeral arrangements for Sierra have been postponed until her mother’s condition improves.
Demelo’s cousin, Ashley Martin, set up a Go Fund Me campaign on Wednesday, noting that Naomi suffered “life-altering injuries” and will require “extensive rehabilitation” once she is able to come home.
As of Thursday evening, the campaign had topped its 10,000 goal.
To contribute visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-relieve-financial-stress-after-car-accident
The collision remains under investigation. Brant OPP are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or has dash camera footage of the accident to contact them at 1-888-310-1122.