COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio mother who tried to stop two men from stealing her car with her 6-year-old son inside was killed when the vehicle struck her.
The boy was unharmed, police said, and no other injuries were reported.
Alexa Stakely, 29, of Pickerington, was at an apartment complex in Columbus to pick up her son from a babysitter around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. A single mother who was a speech-language pathologist for the Canal Winchester Local Schools district, Stakely also worked as a waitress and had just finished a shift for that job, Columbus police said.
Stakely initially brought the sleeping boy to her car, which she had left running, then returned to the babysitter’s unit to get the child’s belongings, police said. As she returned to her vehicle, Stakely saw someone starting to back it out onto the roadway and she ran toward the car, screaming for her son and telling the driver to stop.
Stakely was struck by the car and knocked to the pavement, suffering a head injury. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The two men abandoned the car a short distance away from where Stakely was struck, then ran past her as they fled by jumping a fence and heading into a neighboring apartment complex, police said. They remained at large Friday.
Surveillance video had recorded a group of men looking into apartments in another nearby complex earlier that morning, according to police, who said they matched the description of the men later seen running past Stakely.
In a heartbreaking and tragic incident, a mother was fatally injured while trying to prevent a car theft with her child inside. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that can arise when individuals take matters into their own hands in an attempt to protect their property.
The incident occurred in a quiet residential neighborhood, where the mother had left her child in the car for just a few moments while she ran back into the house to grab something she had forgotten. In that short span of time, a thief seized the opportunity to jump into the car and attempt to drive away.
Upon realizing what was happening, the mother rushed outside and bravely tried to stop the thief from taking off with her child. In the chaos that ensued, she was struck by the moving vehicle and suffered fatal injuries.
This tragic incident highlights the importance of prioritizing personal safety over material possessions. While it is natural to want to protect one’s property, it is never worth risking one’s life or well-being in the process. In situations involving theft or other criminal activity, it is always best to prioritize calling law enforcement and allowing them to handle the situation.
Furthermore, leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, even for a brief moment, can also have serious consequences. Children should never be left alone in a car, as they are vulnerable to a variety of dangers, including theft, abduction, and heatstroke.
In the aftermath of this devastating incident, the community has come together to support the family of the victim and to raise awareness about the importance of safety and vigilance in everyday life. It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and cautious in their surroundings, and to prioritize personal safety above all else.
Ultimately, this tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when individuals take matters into their own hands in an attempt to protect their property. It is important for everyone to prioritize safety and well-being above material possessions, and to seek help from law enforcement in situations involving criminal activity.
