SAN ANTONIO – Pibo Amrani said the last week has felt like years for his family.
“Even after getting to the school or getting to the hospital, it didn’t feel real,” Amrani said.
Amrani’s 1-year-old daughter, Mkaya, was one of the children severely injured in a crash at the Excelled Montessori Plus School near Fair Oaks Ranch.
Mkaya’s teacher, Alexis Rosales, died at the scene.
One week later, Mkaya remains hospitalized in critical condition.
“We’re hoping every day that something’s going to change,” Amrani said.
On Dec. 19, Bexar County deputies said someone accidentally crashed into a car in the school’s parking lot, which pushed another car into Rosales and a group of children.
“All we know is (Mkaya) got to the hospital with no heartbeat,” Amrani said. “The doctor says she may need weeks of recovery. She may need months of recovery.”
Amrani said his family is calling for clarity from Bexar County investigators.
“We really don’t know the full story,” Amrani said. “We have doubts and questions about the driver.”
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said Friday night that the driver has stopped talking to BCSO investigators. The driver has directed the investigators to speak with her legal counsel instead, the BCSO official said.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said on the night of the crash that the parent behind the wheel of the crash suffered a medical episode leading to the tragedy.
Salazar also said that he did not expect charges to be filed due to the nature of the accident.
“She does have a past medical history that may have contributed to this, but at this point, we don’t think it has anything to do with intoxication or any sort of criminality,” Salazar said during a Dec. 19 news conference. “But it may be a possibility there was a medical issue that took place.”
Until the investigation wraps up, that could change.
The Amrani family is also calling on parents to hold their schools accountable. They want concrete barriers and more secure playgrounds at schools.
“There are a lot of schools that have kids exposed to high-traffic areas or their playground is not protected at all,” Amrani said. “We really want that to change.”
At this time, the family said they are not doing any fundraising. Instead, the family is asking for prayers.
Amrani said his family is aware of potential street scams or fake GoFundMe pages.
“We don’t have any relations with any type of fundraising,” Amrani said.
Amrani said his primary focus is his daughter’s well-being.
“We don’t know how it’s going to end, but we’re going to keep fighting until justice will be served,” Amrani said. “Every breath she takes is a fight for her that gives us hope.”
As of Saturday morning, Amrani told KSAT that Mkaya’s condition has not improved. The family is seeking additional opinions from pediatricians and neurosurgeons about her health.
The sheriff’s office said its investigation remains ongoing.
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