By Willie GraySpecial toThe South Alabamian

Officers from the Alabama State Troopers Office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene of an accident in Wagarville, Friday, in which 2-year-old Joy Cunningham was struck by a passing motorist. (SA photo by Evan Carden)

The holiday season ended tragically for a Wagarville family, as they learned their youngest child had been struck by an automobile and severely injured.

Two-year-old Jessica “Joy” Cunningham suffered multiple injuries after being struck by a pickup truck. She now remains in stable condition.

Alabama State Troopers reported that 43-year-old Timothy Corley of Mobile had been traveling north on US Hwy 43 through Washington County when he struck Cunningham, who was said to have been standing in the highway.

Joy is the youngest daughter of Jason and Jessica Cunningham of Wagarville. Jessica said that Joy had been playing inside the family’s home just minutes prior to the tragedy. “I left her playing in the living room while I put some clothes on to wash. The next thing I know someone comes running to the house saying she had been hit.”

Corley was said to have been the person who went to the family home for help following the accident. Joy is believed to have wandered out of the house and gone down the driveway and onto the busy four-lane highway.

Within minutes of being notified of the accident, members of JETS Ambulance Service, Wagarville Volunteer Fire Department along with Washington County Sheriff’s Department and McIntosh Police Department were on the scene.

Deputy Luke Singleton and Sgt. Kessler Weaver, of the WCSD, were two of the law enforcement officers to go to the scene. “We were first called to the scene by Officer Reco House, of McIntosh PD. He was on his way to work and came upon the accident shortly after it happened. When Sgt. Weaver and I got there we helped control the scene for the state troopers,” said Singleton.

Members of the JETS team were able to stabilize Joy and transport her to Jackson Medical Center. After getting her to JMC she was re-evaluated and transported to the University of South Alabama’s Women and Children’s Hospital, where she currently remains in stable condition but in a coma.