Woman Facing ‘Lifelong Recovery’ After Being Hit by Car Driven by 4- And 7-Year-Old Brothers
A tragic situation all around.
On August 6, 2026, Kiara Bowling was walking her dog in Oakland, California, when she was struck by a car and critically injured. The drivers? Two brothers, aged four and seven years old, who also suffered injuries from the incident.
According to People, the accident occurred around 9:15 a.m. Surveillance video showed a white Toyota sedan speeding down the street at that time. Soon after, it sideswiped a vehicle traveling in the other direction, lost control, and hit Bowling (witnesses reported that the dog ran off).
Speaking with ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Bowling’s family recently confirmed the seriousness of her injuries, which include facial fractures and a brain bleed. Her cousin also asked for prayers. Meanwhile, the two children are still in the hospital, as well; according to their uncle, the 7-year-old fractured both legs, while the 4-year-old suffered a concussion.
Bowling Likely Faces a Lifelong Recovery
A GoFundMe was created by Karon Markham to help Bowling, who recently returned to the area after completing a summer program for her J.D. at Yale, with the medical bills she now faces as a result of the incident. Bowling’s family shared with ABC 7 that she will require multiple surgeries to aid in healing. Donations to the fundraiser will go not only towards those medical bills, but also to physical therapy, transportation to medical appointments, and extended medical support.
According to the fundraiser’s description, “Kiara is facing a lifelong recovery and will need continued care far beyond the immediate aftermath of the accident.” The fundraiser’s stated goal was $90,000. As of August 11, 2026, donations had reached a total of $85,230.
Opinions Differ on Where to Place the Blame
As Bowling and the children recover, questions remain about exactly who is at fault for this incident.
According to the boys’ uncle, the children took the car keys while their parents were sleeping before setting off on a drive. However, their father is unclear on how they found the car keys in the first place. The boys’ parents are both cooperating completely with the police, though.
Meanwhile, ABC 7 spoke to experts about the ramifications of the accident.
Legal analyst and former prosecutor Steven Clark told ABC 7 that the situation is incredibly unusual. He stated, “I’ve never seen anything like this.” He also explained that although the act could be considered a crime, the ages of the children make it unlikely that criminal charges will be filed. However, a civil case could be likely.
ABC 7 also spoke with board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Shivani Chmura, who said the children shouldn’t be blamed. She explained, “These kids are not capable, at this age, of understanding the consequences of what they did […] I would recommend counseling for them.”
One witness to the accident, though, had thoughts about where the responsibility for the incident lies. He said to ABC 7, “Unfortunately, I think these parents need to be held responsible and that was my main concern was these parents need to be held responsible.”
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