Family of Toddler Run Over by Riding Lawnmower Seeks Donations

The family of a toddler run over by a riding lawnmower has set up a Go Fund Me page in hopes of covering her medical expenses.

The Zuri’s Medical Fund! page had already raised $1,280 by Thursday morning. The page’s goal is $10,000.

The 2-year-old girl was playing with sticks outside a Plum Street residence when her great-grandmother backed a riding lawnmower over her Tuesday afternoon.

The great-grandmother felt the mower bump into something and heard screams. The screams woke the child’s mother, who was sleeping inside the house and did not know her daughter was playing outside, police said.

The mother and great-grandmother were unable to pull the child out from under the lawnmower and called 911. Plainfield firefighters arrived and lifted the mower off of the girl.

Deputies called to the scene cleared an area for a helicopter to land and fly the toddler off to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

The girl suffered a large laceration to her upper thigh, police said.

The child was “rushed into surgery as her artery was severed and she was bleeding out,” the Go Fund Me page said.

“Thankfully the doctors stopped the bleeding, but we aren’t sure if they can save this little girl’s leg,” the page said. “She is in intensive care awaiting her next surgery as there are many more to follow due to the extensive damage to the leg.”