It was Halloween night and a group of junior high girls were trick-or-treating in Woodinville. Their route took them on 75th Ave SE, a road without street lights and sidewalks.

Though the group was brightly dressed and carrying glow sticks, the driver of a car coming down the road didn’t see them until it was too late.

While the majority of the group was able to get out of the way in time, two of the girls, Melissa Robles and Hailey Vileta, were not so lucky. Both ended up in the hospital with serious injuries and little recollection of the accident.

Melissa broke her leg in two places, sustained fractures in her skull and bruised her liver. Hailey was left with a broken leg, lacerated liver, skull fractures and damage to her eye.

Both girls spent a week in the hospital before being sent home in wheelchairs.

Hailey is currently walking around on crutches and Melissa will soon follow. Full recovery is expected to take another year to year and a half.

The driver who hit them was not cited and alcohol did not play a role.

“It was an accident, plain and simple,” explains Jeff Vileta, Hailey’s dad. “And it could have happened to anyone. We’re just grateful that the girls are going to be OK.”

Both Melissa and Hailey are ninth graders at Leota Junior High, who normally enjoy soccer, tennis, ice skating and other athletic pursuits.

“It’s a bummer because I can’t do sports and I’m going to miss the snow season,” says Hailey. “But, that really doesn’t matter because we’re just lucky to be alive.”

Rather than focus on their injuries and harp on the negatives, the two teens, with help from their parents, have begun a safety campaign called “Stay Alert … Stay Safe.”

The campaign promotes the need for both pedestrian and driver awareness. “We’ve made bracelets and a green traffic sign with our slogan,” says Melissa. “And we’re teaching safety tips to pedestrians.”

Hailey adds, “We realize that there was a lesson to be learned in all of this and we wanted to let others know what happened to us so that it wouldn’t happen to them. It’s so important to be aware of your surroundings and to take steps to make sure you can be seen by drivers at night. And drivers need to be extra careful in unlit areas that don’t have any real sidewalks. People may be walking right next to the road because there is nowhere else to walk.”

The girls hope that the campaign and related events, such as the recent silent auction and dinner organized on their behalf, will raise money to help defray the cost of their medical bills.

While insurance will cover some of the medical payments, the families will struggle with deductibles, co-pays, ongoing therapy, lost work time and unrecoverable expenses while they care for their girls.

“There’s a $25,000 gap in the insurance in what it will cost for Hailey’s rehab,” comments Jeff. “We’re very appreciative of the community and the support they have shown for us during this time of great financial need.”

The girls also hope that maybe they will be able to raise enough money to sponsor a streetlight and/or signs along the road where they were hit.

They recently brought the campaign to their school where an assembly was held to call attention to the need for kids to practice pedestrian safety when out walking on their own.

“It’s all about raising awareness of our choices, both as pedestrians and drivers,” adds Jeff. “We all need to take responsibility for our safety and realize that the choices we make can and will affect others.”

For more information about “Stay Alert…Stay Safe” or to make a contribution, visit www.stayalertstaysafe.com.

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