Felicia Miller is proud of the progress her young daughter Ariel has made since their traumatic car crash.
One evening in February of 2021, Miller had pulled over on the side of the road to help her cousin, whose car had broken down, as her 5-year-old daughter waited in the backseat. As both cars were stopped on the shoulder, a pickup truck slammed into both vehicles.
Mother Recounts Traumatic Car Crash Where Drunk NFL Coach Caused Critical Injuries To Daughter
Britt Reid, the son of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (and, at the time, the assistant coach for the team) was behind the wheel.
Miller spoke exclusively to ABC News on “Good Morning America” just days after Reid pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence as part of a plea deal for a reduced sentence.
The night of the crash, Miller said she found her daughter Ariel trapped beneath the crush of the seats. She had been critically injured with a traumatic brain injury.
“I was just freaking out and then finally, we find her, because she’s buried under the seats,” said Miller. “When I got her outta the car, she was stiff … she was just stiff like a board.”
Ariel was rushed to the hospital and proceeded to spend two weeks in a coma. While Miller was relieved when Ariel woke up, she also knew her daughter was still in pain.
“She didn’t know who I was, so as I’m trying to touch my baby, like, ‘Hey, baby,’ she was, you know, moving away. And … she didn’t recognize me,” said Miller.
An officer on the scene reported smelling “a moderate odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from [Reid],” according to a search warrant application. Reid reportedly told the officer that he’d had “2-3 drinks” and was on the prescription drug “Adderall.”
Miller said her daughter does not remember the crash, but due to her injuries, has had to re-learn many of her favorite things — including dance.
Young Family via Tom Porto via KMBCThe scene of the Feb. 4, 2021 crash with Britt Reid that critically injured Ariel Young is seen in an image released by the Young family’s attorney Tom Porto.
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“She didn’t remember the wreck or anything, so she just woke up seeing her pictures and a whole bunch of videos from before [and she compares those to] now, like, ‘Why am I like this?’ is how she thinks,” said Miller.
Reid, who has faced prior legal trouble — including pleading guilty to driving under the influence in 2008 — will be sentenced in late October. He can be sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison.
Former NFL coach Britt Reid attends his plea hearing in connection with the alleged drunk driving crash on Feb. 4, 2021 that resulted in the critical injury of Ariel Young.
“I think the family is upset, because they perceive a different system of justice for those who have privilege and those who don’t, those who have privilege and those people from the victim’s community,” said Tom Porto, the family’s attorney.
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In part of a statement to ABC News, Reid’s attorney, J.R. Hobbs, told ABC News that Reid “has accepted responsibility for his conduct,” and added that, “[Reid] continues to be remorseful and has apologized to all affected.”
Details about Ariel’s condition remain limited due to a legal agreement with the Chiefs, who have worked out a payment plan for her medical care.
Ariel, who is now 7, has returned to school. Miller said her “Ariel Strong” shirt serves as a reminder that her daughter is improving every day, but she is not out the woods just yet.
“She’s been strong through the whole last almost two years,” she said. “So my family, we all wear the ‘Ariel Strong’ shirts.”