Helmet, winter coat saves young girl’s life in crash, parents say

GILBERT, Ariz. (KPNX) - Alexandra Strazza will soon be 8 years old, but the birthday celebration is on hold for now after a car hit her on Monday.

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The Strazza family was bike riding from downtown Gilbert for lunch when on their way back home a driver reportedly ran a red light and hit Alexandra.

“We were coming to the crosswalk when the accident happened,” Daniel Strazza, her father, said. “I screamed right before he hit her because I saw he wasn’t stopping, and it was too late.”

Strazza added, “I thought she was dead immediately. There was no way that anybody could have survived that hit.”

Daniel and Sarah Strazza rushed to their daughter after witnessing the crash and called 911.

Sarah Strazza, a registered nurse, applied an improvised tourniquet.

“I was just trying to call my daughter at that point because she was screaming and she didn’t know where she was and didn’t know what happened,” she said.

Paramedics took Alexandra to Banner’s Children’s Hospital with a broken leg and deep lacerations to her face mouth and teeth.

Daniel and Sarah Strazza say they believe her helmet and winter jacket helped save her life after the force of the crash pushed her about 50 feet away from the sidewalk.

“That definitely helped lighten the blow of her injuries,” Daniel Strazza said.

Gilbert police say the crash remains under investigation; the driver was not arrested or sighted at the scene.

The Strazza family is now urging drivers to pay attention when on the road.

“Please pay attention when you’re driving and be aware of your surroundings because you can save a life that way,” Sarah Strazza said.

Alexandra is expected to make a full recovery, the family said.

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