Family Says Their 4-Year-Old Daughter Was Killed By Distracted Driver

Investigators in Texas are looking into the death of a 4-year old girl.

The Cooley family has since moved away but still has ties to Oklahoma.

Abbie Cooley was born in Norman. Abbie's dad, Jason, is a storm chaser at KTEN in Texhoma.

Four days ago, Jason's car was hit in east Texas.

“Someone hit my car at 70 miles an hour in a 70 mile an hour traffic jam in Sulphur Springs,” Jason Cooley said. “Try to get her out, but she was unconscious. I was screaming in pain, but I knew I had to get her out in case the car ignited.”

Jason’s car was totaled. He was taken to the ER but said he had minor injuries.

Abbie was flown to a local hospital. After some tests, she was declared brain dead.

Her mother, Chandler Paige Sullivan, said the only thing keeping them going is the chance to prevent distracted driving.

“It's hard to be strong in this situation. It's hard to not be angry,” Sullivan said. “Why would I want someone else to go through this when I could save another kid and that kid’s parents from such a traumatic thing?”

The family has a ton of support.

Because Abbie's dad is a storm tracker in Texhoma, other storm trackers around the state assembled to spell her name in the sky with their geolocators.

Abbie's organs were donated.

While Abbie will save at least eight other children's lives, her family said she should still be with them.

“It's unfair. I don't know why this had to happen,” Cooley said. “It could have been avoided. Just hope that in the future, the awareness.”