Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
MAGNA — A community is rallying behind a Magna teen after she was put in a medically-induced coma by what they said was an "extremely scary accident" while she was "car surfing."
Officers and emergency medical teams were sent to Magna Regional Park about 9 p.m. Wednesday. Ava Broadhead had been car surfing with a group of her friends when she fell off the top of the car and hit the pavement, said Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race.
"That's what happens to all teens, they fall into peer pressure," said Kandis George, Ava's mom. "They know that's not smart!"
Race said car surfing is where a person clings to the top of a moving vehicle and the vehicle makes sharp turns.
"I'm sure it was, 'Hey! We should do this, it would be fun,' and not thinking, 'Oh wait, what if I flung off this car. All these things are going to stop in my life because in the moment that seems fun,'" George said.
Ava was taken to the hospital in critical condition with a traumatic brain injury, Race said.
According to her mom and school drill team who spread the word on social media in the following days, Ava underwent surgery and was medically induced into a coma.
"Please send prayers to our Ava girl who was in an extremely scary accident last night," said the Cyprus High School drill team on social media. "Please send all your love and prayers to her and her family. We are thinking of you Ava."
While difficult for them to deal with, the family is hanging onto the news that she was stable as of Friday.
"I want to bring awareness because my bright, vibrant girl is fighting for her life," George said.
George said she wanted to share Ava's story to gain support during her recovery and to spread awareness of how dangerous car surfing is.
"I posted her story on social media and I've gotten thousands of inbox messages on Instagram and Facebook," George said. "A lot of just, 'Thank you for sharing your story.' 'I didn't know this was a thing.'"
After sharing Ava's story, George received messages saying they had loved ones who had been injured from car surfing.
"(Teens need to know) it's not always cool to do those things, and it's OK to say no to something dangerous like car surfing," George said.
According to George, she had been looking forward to dancing on the drill team for her second year and was scheduled to perform at the homecoming football game Saturday, for which she had just found a dress to wear.
In an update Friday George said doctors were working to keep Ava's body temperature stable and swelling in her brain down. Doctors told Ava's family they expected her recovery to get worse before it got better.
"If she pulls through, she will be in a coma for a week or two, then in the hospital for at least a month, and in rehab for several months," George said. "Please send healing light and prayers for my sweetest Ava. Ava, I promise to cherish you a little more forever."
On social media, videos of similar stunts show mostly teens, some even on trains. They don't know the danger. In Colorado, a teen driver was charged with vehicular homicide. In Maryland, a teenage girl died while train surfing. One parent is reportedly taking action, suing TikTok. The platform now appears to be limiting access to these videos.
"The most horrible thing," George said. "I don't wish it on anybody. My heart is broken into a million pieces. She is such a vibrant girl."
Utah does have a statute that could be used to hold car surfers accountable. That statute prohibits you from driving with or riding in a part of the vehicle that is not intended for use by passengers.
"It keeps happening. They're having the same injuries, these traumatic brain injuries that are happening time and time again. And we need to do something," George said. "We need to bring awareness because it's not stopping. These kids think it's fun. It was on 'Teen Wolf' and it's been glamorized by Hollywood."
A GoFundMe* account was set up to help Ava's family financially in their time of need.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
