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Sheriff identifies 2-year-old killed in crash despite ‘heroic’ efforts

Posted at 6:15 PM, Jun 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-27 17:36:55-04

RAVENNA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Despite the efforts of a bystander, a 2-year-old girl died following a crash after police say the vehicle she was riding in drove through a stop sign and into an oncoming vehicle before veering off the road Saturday.

The girl was identified Sunday afternoon as Alayna Curtis. Her mother— Sara Curtis, 24, of Ravenna — was driving a minivan west on Ellis Road just after noon Saturday when she failed to stop at the intersection at Mooreland Road, hitting a northbound Jeep Cherokee, according to the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office.

Police said Curtis became distracted by her two children riding in the backseat and did not see the stop sign.

They said another daughter of Curtis’ — 4-year-old Bayla Bushman — was taken to the hospital where both she and her mother were treated and released.

Alayna Curtis, 2, killed in crash. (courtesy photo)

The collision forced the van off the road and into a power boat on a trailer parked near the intersection, according to police.

Despite a ‘heroic’ bystander performing CPR, followed by treatment from EMS and police once they arrived on scene, the 2-year-old girl could not be resuscitated, said Muskegon County Sheriff Dean Roesler.

The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Police said the two young girls were in child seats.

Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, investigators said.

>> MORE: A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral, medical expenses