ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A PTSA trolley driver who police say hit and teen in a November crash has been arrested.
Chrishawn Rodgers has been charged with reckless driving with bodily injury, according to police. She was also given multiple traffic citations: red light violation, failure to change address, providing false information in a crash and speeding too fast for intersection.
What You Need To Know
- 15-year-old Tammy Burch was injured when she was struck by a trolley on Nov. 19
- The teen suffered a traumatic brain injury among other injuries; she was released from the hospital on Jan. 3
- Police have arrested the PTSA trolley driver, Chrishawn Rodgers; she has been charged with reckless driving with bodily injury
Tammy Burch, 15, suffered multiple injuries, including traumatic brain injury when she was struck on Nov. 19. Larry Burch, her father, says he wasn’t sure his daughter was going to live.
Tammy spent 45 days in the hospital and was released on Jan. 3. Burch says his daughter has a long road of healing ahead and needs, among other procedures, skull reconstruction surgery and plastic surgery.
He said the teen relies on a feeding tube, is deaf in one ear and has blurry vision.
PSTA says Rodgers was on probation with a final warning when the crash happened. PSTA also confirms Rodgers was terminated Oct. 25 for what it described as behavioral issues.
PSTA says Rodgers was reinstated Nov. 6 after fighting the termination with support from the Service Employees National Union. PSTA says she was placed on one-year probation and given a final warning. After the crash, Rodgers was terminated on Nov. 29, according to PSTA.
Following Rodgers arrest, PSTA provided the following statement:
"The operator’s employment with PSTA was terminated per our policies following the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman and her family as she continues her recovery.”
Burch started a GoFundMe campaign to help with mounting medical bills. Tammy, who is a freshman, is transitioning into virtual school at Boca Cieca High School while she recovers.
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