Lemonade Stand This Weekend For Woman Injured in Crash Near Leigh High School

Residents who live near the Leigh Avenue home of a woman seriously injured the afternoon of April 24 during a two-car crash that sent one plowing into her living room nearly killing her are now planning two more lemonade stands this weekend to help the family.

Neighbor Virginia Jennings is one of the organizers of the fundraising event which will take place at the corner of where the accident occurred—Leigh Avenue and Anne Way—near Campbell Union High School District's Leigh High School. She said lemonade stands were successfully held last weekend to also help the family.

"What happened could have happened to anyone ... ," she said. "I live kitty corner from the accident and have to see it every time I look out my kitchen or living room window."

Jennings said she feels blessed that the teen drivers of the two BMWs involved in the crash—arrested and charged with felony reckless driving—didn’t strike her house, husband, or 6-year-old child.

Sadly, Jennings said, it was just a matter of time as her family, too, had an accident across their yard this past January. She said another Leigh High School student was doing 100 miles per hour up Anne Way when he blew the stop sign, hit oncoming traffic totaling five cars including his.

"The Cross family will forever be affected by what happened and I just felt compelled to do something to help," Jennings said.

Corlista Davison, 12, is one of the main organizers, according to Jennings and her siblings attend the same school as the Cross' 9-year-old daughter who was buried in the rubble, but received minor injuries.

Corlista set up the stands April 27-28 and the neighbors decided to keep it going to help cover future medical bills, clothing, living expenses or whatever the family needs, Jennings said.

"They all left the house with the clothes on their backs. This has shaken me to my core and my heart is so heavy for this family. As a neighbor, mother and compassionate person I felt compelled to help them, how can you not?" she said.

The residents say they hope the lemonade stands raise funds and their speaking out about traffic safety will get local authorities to take notice.

The neighbors will be out selling the cool lemonade from noon until 5 p.m. on both days, Jennings said, adding that last weekend they raised $3,658.59.

The residents also set up a bank account to help the Cross family.

Donations can be made at:

Chase Bank, 400 No. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos, under account name "Cross Family Fund," account No. 994901411

Jennings said the family is healing, but Ping Chen, one of five people injured during the crash, remains hospitalized in the ICU. She was scheduled to have another surgery Thursday, but her prognosis is a long and painful recovery.

"She’s likely to be in the hospital for 6-8 weeks, followed by physical therapy, but by some huge miracle is expected to recover. A long recovery, but she is expected to walk again," Jennings said.

Three people who were riding in one of BMWs were treated at area hospitals for injuries the day of the crash and the driver of the other BMW was treated at the scene, police said.

Related articles:

• Teens Arrested After Crashing into Home Near Leigh High School
• Five Injured in S.J. Car Crash

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