COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 12-year-old boy hit by a cargo van outside Davis Elementary School in Marietta is speaking publicly for the first time since the accident.
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It left Preston Veal with serious injuries.
He was walking to the school in June to play basketball when he was struck by a van on Jamerson Road. He was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite, where he received treatment for his injuries.
The collision left him with broken ribs, a lacerated liver, bruised lungs and several injuries to his leg.
“I’m feeling good,” Preston told Channel 2’s Audrey Washington on Thursday.
The ordeal prompted new safety measures at the intersection near the school. Concerned parents started a petition calling for safety improvements at the intersection.
“We as a community need to protect the families, the children,” said Courtney Distefano, a parent.
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners recently approved changes to improve safety in the area. They include realigning traffic lanes and installing a rapid flashing rectangular beacon at the intersection.
Preston’s mother, Bernice Veal, expressed her relief at the changes.
“I’m so happy that they started to make that change quickly,” she said.
Preston, who is back in school but still undergoing rehabilitation, shared his hope that the new measures will prevent future accidents.
“I’m pretty happy about that so there won’t be anymore injuries, well accidents like that in the future,” he said.
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