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 said.

African Community Education (ACE) said Ayuen Leet, a student in their program, was struck by a car as she crossed Shrewsbury Street in Worcester.

ACE is a nonprofit that aims to “empower African refugee and immigrant youth through educational, leadership, and cultural programming.”

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

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

ACE started an online fundraiser for Leet that had raised over $13,000 as of Sunday night, shy of its $20,000 goal.  

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

Authorities are accelerating a plan set forth by Worcester’s Department of Transportation and Mobility to combat the high number of car crashes. Two plans pending before the City Council involve reducing the speed limit citywide from 30 mph to 25 mph and establishing 20 mph “safety zones.”