Apex family deals with tragic loss of son in accident
APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- There's heartbreak for an Apex family as they prepare to bury their son, Treyvion Daniels.
"The sad thing about this is we shouldn't even have to be going through this," said father Eric Barnes.
"He did his homework. He stayed in the house and he played with his sister. He was a good kid and now he's gone," said mother Trina Barnes
The 13-year-old suffered severe brain injury. He spent more than a week in the hospital fighting for his life before a decision was made.
"He was just battered and his body was just beat up too much and we had to take him off life support," said Eric.
Earlier this month in Wilson's Mills, police say Julla Panneh plowed into a gray car which was stopped at a red light. Treyvion, who was in the area attending a family party, was in the backseat. EMS frantically worked to save him and bystanders quickly stepped in to help.
Panneh has been charged with "misdemeanor death by motor vehicle." Police say alcohol or drugs were not factors, and she wasn't texting while driving. Police believe she was distracted in some way and it led to the crash. We tried to speak with the 38-year-old Raleigh resident a couple of times this week. Her family told us she was unavailable. According to her arrest report, she works at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro.
Panneh is out of jail right now. She posted the $5,000 bond and it's something that infuriates the victim's family.
"It's like a slap in the face to us," said Eric. "She's at home with her family and we're sitting here suffering. My son lost his life. We are trying to plan his funeral now, and he was innocent. He was only 13 years old. He was doing everything he was supposed to. He was in the car with his seatbelt on."
Treyvion was supposed to start seventh grade at Lufkin Road Middle School. He got As and Bs in class. The teen's parents showed ABC11 awards he received in school and drawings he recently sketched.
"He wanted to play football and soccer when school started, and he's never going to get a chance to do that," said Trina.
Now, all the family has to hold onto is memories and hope someday for healing.
"When I told my cousin she could take him, I never thought when I seen my son again he would be laid up in the hospital with brain injury," said Eric. "I'm not supposed to be burying my son."
The family is preparing to do a homegoing celebration this upcoming Monday. It is going to be held at Chappell's Funeral Home in Garner. However, the family is struggling to find the money to pay for the services. The family is asking anyone interested in making a donation to send a check to the funeral home. The address is 555 Creech Road, Garner NC 27529.
Another family member, also 13, was sent to the hospital for treatment but has since been released.
Panneh is due in court on these charges Sept. 22.
