South Florida

Victim of Crash That Critically Injured South Florida Principal Speaks Out

Another victim of the horrific crash that critically injured a beloved South Florida principal spoke out Friday.

Ilena Salort-Horta, a mother of five, knows she's lucky to be alive.

"There was no where for me to move. So I thought to myself, 'I can't believe this is how I'm going to die.' I turned to my right, closed my eyes, got into fetal position and I said, 'God please my kids,'" Salort-Horta explained.

She was one of two people hit Tuesday evening during a Little League baseball game at Tamiami Park.

"I hear 'boom,' get thrown and I rolled about three times. I landed on my back, opened my eyes and see the sky," said Salort-Horta, who suffered a sprained ankle and a shoulder injury.

Investigators said the driver of an SUV, identified as Marilyn Aguilera, lost control at the 2300 block of Southwest 117th Avenue, slamming into a fence and driving onto the field.

Salort-Horta was standing in the path of the vehicle and so was the other victim, Javier Perez, the coach of the team that both his and Horta's sons play on.

"Touched my head. I looked over and Javier was next to me and I saw his condition and it was horrific," she explained.

Perez is the principal at South Dade High School. He's in critical condition at Kendall Regional Medical Center, fighting to recover after having his legs amputated by doctors, due to his injuries.

"It's a senseless accident. I feel so bad. I'm keeping in touch with the family," Salort-Horta said.

Still, she can't help feeling grateful. None of the children were hurt and nobody died. She knows it could have been worse.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Perez and his family with medical expenses.

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