GoFundMe set up for 14-year-old Cape girl’s family after devastating scooter/truck accident
A GoFundMe page is continuing for a Cape Coral teen who was struck by a truck on her scooter recently and hospitalized in critical condition.
The GoFundMe page organized by Monica Piscopo, states that Stella Piscopo, 14, was hospitalized in critical condition at John Hopkin’s All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Her injuries included a severe brain injury, broken leg, cracked pelvis, a bruised lung, an injured liver, and countless bruises and abrasions, the page states.
“Stella’s hospital is two hours from our home in Cape Coral, and she will likely be there for up to two months,” the page states. “This means our family faces daily travel, lodging, and meal expenses on top of the emotional and financial strain of her injuries. Every contribution will help us stay by Stella’s side and focus on her healing, rather than worrying about how we’ll manage these extra costs.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, $9,203 has been raised. Donations can be made at gofundme.com.
One of her friends, a freshman at Oasis High School, spoke during Cape Coral City Council’s citizens input last Wednesday to ask for possible short- and long-term solutions – as a voice for her friend.
A long-term solution she proposed is a pedestrian bridge at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Veterans Parkway, and the short-term solution of having some sort of gate that opens and closes preventing someone to cross the road at the wrong time.
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the student who spoke during citizen’s input emailed him the night prior.
“I had the opportunity to speak with several of my staff members, and Lee County Department of Transportation,” he said.
Ilczyszyn said he has been advised by the county that there is no audible ADA device at that intersection – the signal that loudly projects wait.
“They are going to be exploring adding that to the intersection,” he said, as it is in close proximity to Cape Coral High School and a lot of children use it. “There is some possible movement there.”
Ilczyszyn said he is also putting the student in contact with one of their traffic engineers that might be able to assist her with looking at the Florida Greenbook Design Standards to accommodate some type of physical device that is acceptable.
“Allow her to explore that as an option,” he said.
Mayor John Gunter said it is something they definitely have to get Lee County involved with because it is a county roadway and intersection. He said any improvements or modifications to the roadway must be made by though the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
“We do need to come up with a solution for these different types of transportation,” Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said of e-bikes, and e-scooters as they are new.
Councilmember Bill Steinke said there are safety options out there that are very costly – although the cost of a life – what price.
“I had lunch today with a transportation safety company along with our city manager and with our director of transportation,” he said during the Wednesday meeting, as they deal with public safety.