A Niagara Falls woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular assault after hitting and seriously injuring a juvenile while under the influence of marijuana. The Niagara County District Attorney's Office announced the plea agreement on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim, identified as Nevaeh Quarantillo, was riding her bicycle on Ferry Avenue when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Juajhane Cox, 25. The collision resulted in serious, life-altering, injuries to Quarantillo.
While pinned under Cox's vehicle, oxygen could not get to her brain for almost 10 minutes. The deprivation of oxygen resulted in her being in a coma at Oishei Children’s Hospital for more than five months following the incident.
Quarantillo's family documents her progress on a Facebook page called "Neveah’s Prayer Book." She has made some miraculous improvements over the last year and is now off a ventilator and breathing on her own. This is something doctors said she would likely not be able to do again.
Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman expressed his sympathy for the young girl and her family, stating, "Unfortunately, the young girl who was struck by the defendant sustained horrible injuries that she and her family will live with for the rest of her life."
Seaman emphasized that there is no excuse for driving under the influence of marijuana and highlighted the consequences that can follow such actions. Cox faces a potential sentence of up to four years in state prison as a result of her guilty plea. She is scheduled to return to court on November 27th for sentencing.
Niagara Falls Woman Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Assault After Causing Life-altering Injuries to Child