13-year-old girl in a coma after being struck by car in Worcester

A 13-year-old girl who was hit by a car in Worcester on Monday is now in a coma, a nonprofit working with her family says.

African Community Education (ACE) said Ayuen Leet, a student in their program, was hit by a car while crossing Shrewsbury Street in Worcester.

ACE is a non-profit organization that aims to “empowering African refugee and immigrant youth through education, leadership and cultural programming.”

Leet is a rising seventh-grader and a student in ACE’s after-school and summer reading program, the group said. She and her family emigrated from South Sudan to Massachusetts just over a year ago, according to the nonprofit.

“During her time here, all members of the ACE community have seen what a special person she is,” ACE said. “Ayuen always walks around with a smile on her face and makes friends with everyone she meets. She is a hard worker, an honor student and incredibly kind.”

ACE started one collection online for Leet who had raised over $13,000 as of Sunday night, shy of her $20,000 goal.

Recent pedestrian crashes in the Worcester area, including one that killed another teenage girl, prompted officials to declare a “traffic violence emergency” last week. More than 2,800 motor vehicle accidents have occurred in Worcester in 2024 alone, according to the statement.

The authorities accelerate one the plan established by Worcester’s Department of Transportation and Mobility to combat the high number of car accidents. Two plans pending before the City Council involve lowering the citywide speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph and establishing 20 mph “safety zones.”