VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Caroline Triepel held up a plastic, largely fractured skull as she spoke to a packed crowd at her community civic league meeting.
"This is a 3D reconstruction of my daughter's skull and the pieces of skull that were removed to save her life,” Triepel said.
She took the podium at the Broad Bay Estates meeting in February. The YouTube video recording of her speech has reached more than 4,000 views.
It was almost two months after her teenage daughter, Sedonia Triepel, was hit on North Great Neck Road. Police said she was turning left when hit at the intersection of River Road.
Sedonia’s sister heard the crash from their nearby home.
“She had heard it before when a grandmother pulling out of Broad Bay Estates a few months earlier had been hit by a drunk driver and killed,” Triepel said.
Sedonia, 16, is a First Colonial High School student who is known for being a stand-out scholar and athlete, according to her mom. She is currently recovering from her severe injuries in Atlanta.
"I am speaking to you as a mother and to bring the face and life of my oldest daughter to highlight the danger and lethality of this intersection,” Triepel said.
Triepel told the crowd that her biggest concern with the intersection is over speeders, “chaotic” traffic and even drivers ignoring pedestrian crosswalks.
She told community leaders she wants to see a traffic light or roundabout to fix the problem.
Officials with the city traffic engineering department did a study which revealed the intersection is one of the safer ones in Virginia Beach. Documents said 24 incidents occurred over the past six years and most of the incidents involved drivers who had blind spots.
Officials told 13News Now the best option would be an “offset” left turn lane. There is currently a survey underway and workers say safety at the intersection continues to be a “top priority”.
Virginia Beach Police said there are currently no charges filed in the crash.
Sedonia has a Caring Bridge page set up with updates from her family as she has a long road to recovery.