As Democrat-run cities continue to push soft-on-crime policies, a career criminal out on bond severely injured a teenage volleyball player in a car accident — causing her to lose her legs. She is now suing the city of St. Louis for the “completely preventable” accident.
A Tennessee teenage volleyball player who lost her legs after being hit by a car in St. Louis is suing the city, per a lawsuit FOX 17 News obtained. https://t.co/TW6XEmniiR
(Photo: Edmondson family) pic.twitter.com/iyVbHTzCz5
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) June 22, 2023
Janae Edmondson, an 18-year-old high school volleyball player from Tennessee, was competing in a tournament in St. Louis when she was involved in a tragic car accident in February of this year. The teenager was pinned between two cars when 21-year-old Daniel Riley slammed his vehicle into another car that struck Edmondson. At the time, Riley was out on bond for an armed robbery case.
The lawsuit states that Edmondson “had her bright future brutally ripped away when she was crushed between two vehicles following a car crash, leading to amputation of both her legs. The crash, involving a robbery suspect who had violated the terms of his bond dozens of times over several months, was completely preventable.”
This is Daniel Riley, the man accused of causing a crash in downtown St. Louis that severely injured a young volleyball player. #News4Investigates is digging into his background and learning he never should have been driving. More on @KMOV at 6 pic.twitter.com/MMoxEgmGPl
— Susan El Khoury (@SusanElKhoury) February 21, 2023
The suit names St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Riley and the other driver involved as defendants.
Edmondson’s attorneys also pointed out that Riley, a career criminal, had violated the terms of his bond — as he allowed his GPS tracker’s battery to die and left house arrest more than 50 times, but the city still did not revoke his bond.
The case against Riley for a 2020 armed robbery is still ongoing, and the career criminal has pleaded not guilty to the latest charges stemming from the car crash.
The lawsuit further alleges that both Riley and the other driver involved in the accident, Elizabeth Smith, were driving without a license or with suspended driver’s licenses and were both speeding at the time of the crash.
Edmondson has argued that the city of St. Louis is partially responsible for the accident because of the dangerous roadway where the incident occurred.
The teenage volleyball player barely survived being pinned between the two vehicles, and was hospitalized for 40 days due to her injuries. Edmondson, who had been accepted into the University of Tennessee Southern to play volleyball, lost both of her legs from the accident. She has since been offered a partial scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University to help manage the school’s volleyball team.
Edmondson’s family has been giving periodic updates about her progress.
“[Edmondson] joined Planet Fitness (to help her get even stronger for prosthetics, coming soon we hope) and she got to throw out the first pitch at the Sounds game in Nashville. Blessed for her strength! Blessed for our community! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support,” the most recent update from the family read.
