Kyleigh Olliff

VALDOSTA — Early last Thursday morning, Samuel and Kyleigh Olliff left for Hahira Middle School like any other day. They said goodbye to their step-dad and crossed the street to get to the sidewalk on the other side.

But, on this morning, the siblings failed to see the truck coming.

Both children were then life-flighted to South Georgia Medical Center. Samuel, 12, was admitted with non-life-threatening injuries. Kyleigh, 11, suffered serious injuries and had to be life-flighted to a Tallahassee, Fla., hospital.

Jaime Faircloth, the siblings’ step-dad, said Samuel recovered quickly and was released from the hospital after three days. He had a major skull fracture but he will make a full recovery.

“He acts like nothing happened, like he wasn’t even hit,” Faircloth said. “We’ve been watching him, though.”

Kyleigh suffered worse injuries. She is still recovering but was released Monday. Faircloth said Kyleigh was non-responsive for three days.

“Then she sat up and started feeding herself,” Faircloth said. “She’s fine other than a bad concussion, but she won’t have any long-term damage; the doctors say. She has no short term memory, but it’s getting better everyday.”

Faircloth said the siblings will be healed enough for school in about a month. He said they know how lucky they were. The truck driver wasn’t speeding and no charges were filed against him. Faircloth said he has spoken with him and doesn’t hold anything against him.

“We’ve spoken a few times. I told him it wasn’t his fault. It was an accident,” Faircloth said. “I just hope this raises awareness for parents whose kids walk to school.”

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said the department encourages all parents to keep their kids away from the roads. He said many children, especially out in the county, catch the bus before the sun even comes up. Parents should make sure their children know to keep a safe distance between them and the road when waiting for the bus.

Responsibility doesn’t stop at the parents and children, however. Paulk said drivers need to pay close attention to school zones and school buses when driving during school loading and unloading times.

“We don’t have any tolerance for anyone speeding in a school zone and people need to stop a good distance behind a stopped school bus,” Paulk said. “It’s important that we make sure parents talk to their children about the dangers of walking home, and the drivers need to be extra vigilant.”

Faircloth agreed that parents need to make sure their children know where to cross roads and how to stay safe.

“Parents, please make sure you talk to your kids and make sure they know how to be safe,” Faircloth said. “Of course, we thought ours knew where to cross, but evidently they didn’t. Just make sure your kids use crosswalks.”

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256