Homecoming queen Brooke Dawkins dies after walking in front of truck 'following drinking'

By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 13:56 EST, 6 March 2014 | Updated: 14:02 EST, 6 March 2014 58 View comments A 19-year-old student has died after stepping out in front of a pickup truck - apparently after a night of drinking.

Homecoming queen dies after walking in front of truck 'following a night of drinking'

  • Brooke Dawkins was struck near the University of Central Florida, where she was a student, in the early hours of February 23
  • She was rushed to hospital but passed away on Wednesday
  • The driver was not cited because witnesses said he had a green light

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 13:56 EST, 6 March 2014 | Updated: 14:02 EST, 6 March 2014

58

View
comments


A 19-year-old student has died after stepping out in front of a pickup truck - apparently after a night of drinking.

Brooke Dawkins, a University of Central Florida student who had been homecoming queen at her high school in Orlando, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, 10 days after she was struck.

The beloved Kappa Delta sorority sister had stepped into the road on Alafaya Trail by the university's campus at 2.30am February 23 even though drivers had a green light.

Loss: Brooke Dawkins, pictured as she is crowned homecoming queen, has died after being hit by a truck

Loss: Brooke Dawkins, pictured as she is crowned homecoming queen, has died after being hit by a truck

The truck driver hit the teenager and she was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

On Tuesday, her brother Brody said that she had been declared clinically brain dead, before recanting this. Medical staff had continued to list her in critical condition.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said the UCF police officer who arrived on scene and performed CPR on Dawkins smelled alcohol on her, WESH reported.

The driver of the truck was not cited after witnesses said he had a green light, the FHP said.

Brooke Brooke

Beautiful: A responding police officer noted that Brooke, pictured, smelled of alcohol when he found her

Tragic: The 19-year-old fought in hospital for 10 days before passing away on Wednesday

Tragic: The 19-year-old fought in hospital for 10 days before passing away on Wednesday

After the accident, Kappa Delta and friends launched a website, brookestrong.org, to raise money for her care and raised thousands of dollars for her family.

'After a ten-day fight against brain injuries and other medical conditions, Brooke peacefully ascended from this life to the next with her loving family by her side,' said a message on the site on Thursday.

'The original intentions of the Trust was to fund Brooke's recovery. With Brooke's passing, the Trust will use the donations to better the world in Brooke's honor.

'Whether that takes the shape of setting up a scholarship fund, founding a charity organization or funding for medical research remains to be determined by her family.'

Support: Friends and sorority sisters used the hashtag #brookestrong in support of the teenager

Support: Friends and sorority sisters used the hashtag #brookestrong in support of the teenager

Scene: She had stepped out into this intersection near campus even though traffic had the right of way

Scene: She had stepped out into this intersection near campus even though traffic had the right of way

Supporters have been using the slogan and hashtag #brookestrong across social media, uploading images of fundraisers and messages of support.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with Brooke and her loved ones,' UCF's spokeswoman Courtney Gilmartin told WESH.

Friends paid tribute to Brooke on social media.

'Thankful for the laughter you brought to me on a daily basis,' one friend wrote. 'You have always been so special to me; always will be.'

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2FdoOTcm9uZ3ikuqavzqagp59dpsKmsc1mm6Kdo2LEorjKoqWgZaSnwqS3jJ%2BmpaSfrLavs4ynoKCgpGKxs7XNpKCnn16dwa64

 Share!