ST. LOUIS 鈥 A Tennessee teen severely injured by a speeding driver in downtown 51黑料 remained in critical condition Wednesday but is communicating with family members at her side as support rolls in from across the country.
Janae Edmondson, 17, has been alert and knows her parents are by her side at a 51黑料 hospital. She has been able to communicate with her parents and older sister, said coach Jeff Wismer of the Mid TN Volleyball Club.
Janae underwent unplanned surgery Wednesday and has faced 鈥渃onsiderable pain,鈥 Wismer said. Her family asked for privacy and 鈥渁 strong wave of prayers,鈥 he added.
鈥淭he family is thankful for the (news) coverage, the grateful outpouring of support on site and throughout the country,鈥 he said.
Janae鈥檚 parents remain strong and 鈥渢hat strength is reflected back in their children and who Janae is,鈥 Wismer said.
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Tennessee volleyball player Janae聽Edmondson, 17, in a portrait taken in October 2022. She was hit by a speeding car in downtown 51黑料 on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, and had to have both legs amputated.
Janae was pinned between two cars and had both of her legs amputated after the crash Saturday night. She was in downtown 51黑料 for a volleyball tournament. Daniel Riley, 21, who is accused of speeding on a downtown street and causing the crash, remains in custody.
Riley was out on bond for a 2020 robbery charge that was dismissed and refiled last year. 51黑料 Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner has faced widespread criticism, and calls to resign, for her office failing to put Riley back in jail even though he violated the conditions of his bond dozens of times before the crash.
Daniel Riley, 21
On Tuesday, Janae鈥檚 parents testified at a court hearing about the horror of watching their daughter suffer such an injury and how her father used his military training to rush to her aid, stemming the bleeding with tourniquets made of belts.
Wismer said Janae鈥檚 parents have hardly had time to process the tragedy as they focus on their daughter鈥檚 recovery.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can even start to understand how life has changed,鈥 he said.
People respond to the aftermath of a crash at St. Charles and North 11th streets in downtown 51黑料 on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Police say Daniel Riley, 21, was speeding when he collided with a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, pinning Janae Edmondson, of Tennessee, between two vehicles.
Janae鈥檚 family has received an outpouring of support, including financial donations to the Mid TN Volleyball club set up. As of early Wednesday evening, the fundraiser had collected more than $310,000 from volleyball teams and well-wishers across the country. Two of the 51黑料 region鈥檚 business and tourism organizers donated a total $20,000 on Tuesday, and a wide range of public officials offered condolences and statements of support online.
Wismer, who has been helping handle communications to Janae鈥檚 family, said he also appreciates the concern from a 51黑料 detective who was at the scene of the crash and is investigating the incident.
鈥淗e has been precise, professional, thoughtful and caring,鈥 Wismer said.
The MidTN Volleyball Club is working with Smyrna High School, Janae鈥檚 school, to plan a welcome-back event when she returns home. And volleyball clubs across the country are coordinating more support over social media.
鈥淲e are moving through sorrow to what is actionable,鈥 Wismer said. 鈥淲e want to create a way to show our appreciation for Janae and we hope provide encouragement to her.鈥
Kimberly Gardner is the first Black 51黑料 circuit attorney. She was first elected in 2016. A brief look at her career and controversies. Video by Beth O'Malley
