Oakland woman was walking her dog when a car struck her, requiring a lifelong recovery. The driver and his passenger were both under ten

Kiara Bowling is facing a lifelong recovery after being struck by a car driven by two young brothers in Oakland. The incident, which occurred on August 6, has left the early 30-year-old Californian in critical condition as she fights for her life at Highland Hospital.

According to  ABC7 Eyewitness News, the collision happened when 7-year-old and 4-year-old brothers took their parents’ Toyota sedan while the adults were asleep. The young boys, who were eventually hospitalized themselves, reportedly sideswiped another vehicle before losing control and striking Bowling while she was walking a dog on the sidewalk along 35th Avenue.

PEOPLE reported that the impact resulted in severe injuries for Bowling, including a brain bleed and facial fractures. Her family has stated that she will require multiple surgeries and long-term care to manage the aftermath of this event. Bowling is a dedicated student in her final semester at Cal State East Bay and had recently returned to Oakland after completing a summer program at Yale for her J.D. with dreams of becoming a lawyer. 

Culprits that cannot be held accountable

Her family has reportedly set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the significant medical costs associated with her ongoing care. The fundraiser notes that Bowling faces a long and difficult road ahead and that donations will assist with physical therapy, transportation to medical appointments, and other necessary support. As of August 9, the campaign had already raised over $55,000 toward its $90,000 goal.

The circumstances surrounding how the children gained access to the vehicle remain under investigation. KGO TV noted that the boys’ parents were asleep when the children took the keys just after 9:00 AM. The father had reportedly only returned home from an Uber driving shift earlier that morning at 6:00 AM. The boys’ uncle, identified as Ali, expressed that the family is in shock, stating, “I don’t leave the keys around. I don’t know how they did that.”

Per the outlets, legal experts have weighed in on the complexity of the situation. Former prosecutor and legal analyst Steven Clark explained that the act itself could be considered a crime. However, the ages of the children make criminal accountability highly unlikely. For example, in Minnesota, a child was linked to more than 20 instances of criminal vandalism. However, despite causing over $200k in damages in a recent case, he won’t be charged.

“It is a crime that the seven-year-old committed, but we’re not going to put a seven-year-old in juvenile hall,” Clark told WGO TV. He further noted that the situation is a one-off. Thus, civil litigation is more probable than criminal charges for the parents. However, questions regarding supervision and access to the vehicle persist. In a different instance, the quick actions of a 12-year-old saved a Mississippi driver and a bus full of kids when she fainted mid-drive.

According to the outlet, the children were transported to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital following the crash. Their uncle reported that the 7-year-old sustained fractures to both legs, while the 4-year-old is recovering from a concussion. He mentioned that the older brother has been asking about his sibling’s well-being throughout his own recovery.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Shivani Chmura emphasized to WGO-TV that the children should be shielded from blame. “These kids are not capable, at this age, of understanding the consequences of what they did,” she explained. “It’s like they can see that they push the first domino, but they cannot see any of the other ones after that that would fall.” She suggested that counseling will be essential to prevent the boys from developing lifelong symptoms of shame.

Witnesses at the scene of the accident described the event as loud and distressing. Lavelle Shah-Marquis, who saw the aftermath, told ABC 7, “It was loud. I pray that she’s okay, but it was bad, it was bad.” He also noted that the children were found outside the vehicle following the collision.

As the community processes this event, Bowling’s family continues to ask for prayers and support. An update to the GoFundMe page on August 8 shared a message of faith. It stated, “Dear family, No matter what yesterday looked like, GOD IS STILL GOOD. Thank you for your love, support and prayers.” The family remains focused on her recovery as she undergoes the necessary medical procedures. 

Oakland police continue to question the parents. Per WGO TV, they are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation into how the children were able to operate the vehicle. Unfortunately, the police reported that the dog ran off after the collision, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.