A Kansas mother is on trial accused of causing a car crash that killed three Girl Scouts, including her own eight-year-old daughter.
Jury selection has begun for the trial of Amber Peery, who allegedly triggered the fatal incident by attempting to make a U-turn on a busy highway in October 2022.
Prosecutors say Peery’s Dodge pickup truck was traveling south on I-335 in Kansas when she attempted to turn through the highway’s retaining wall and a Kenworth semi-trailer truck crashed into her.
Her daughter Brooklyn Peery, eight, along with Laila El Azari and Kylie Lunn, both nine, died in the collision.
Peery was seen leaving the courtroom during a break from her hearing on Monday. When asked by reporters if she had any comments, she simply said “no” and walked away at a quick pace.
Jury selection has begun in the trial of Amber Peery, who allegedly caused the fatal incident by attempting a U-turn on a busy highway in October 2022. (Pictured: Peery outside the courthouse on Monday)
Kylie Lunn, 9, (above), also lost her life in the horrific crash on I-335
Her best friend, Laila El Azri (above), 9, was the third fatality in the accident.
At the time of the crash, two other children were in Peery’s truck and one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Peery also required hospital treatment. She was ultimately charged with seven counts related to the incident that occurred in June 2023.
She is charged with three counts of reckless manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, improper crossing on a divided highway and failing to check for safe passage before crossing a single lane.
The semi-trailer truck was driven by Robert Hosey Russell, then 70. He was uninjured in the collision and has not been charged.
Peery and the girls, all from Topeka, Kentucky, were heading to a Girl Scout event at the time of the crash.
Peery was seen leaving the courtroom during a break from her hearing on Monday. When asked by reporters if she had any comments, she simply said “no” and walked away quickly.
Pictured: Peery’s vehicle after the crash in October 2022
“I honestly don’t know how I’m going to move on without you, but I know I have to and everything I do will have a purpose for you,” Peery wrote on Facebook after the accident.
Laila and Kylie’s neighbors set up a memorial where the girls used to play.
Shortly after, Peery shared a heartbreaking message for her late daughter on Facebook.
“I honestly don’t know how I’m going to move on without you, but I know I have to and that everything I do will have a purpose for you,” she wrote at the time.
‘Mommy loves you so much, sweet girl, and all I want is to be able to hug you again.’
Residents said Holy Week 13 at the time when cars frequently use the emergency U-turn opening next to the barrier wall where Amber’s car was hit.
She was also mourning her daughter, Tiffany Lunn, who said her daughter Kylie was best friends with her fellow adventurer Laila. Both girls were in fourth grade at Farley Elementary School.
“She was my everything and I was her everything and right now my heart is broken,” Tiffany wrote on Facebook.
“I just don’t know where to go from here, she was my purpose, she was my everything, I’m lost without her.”
Robert Hosey Russell, 70, was driving the truck that struck the Girl Scouts. He was not injured in the fatal crash.
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