WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Brookland community is coming together to support a beloved teacher after she was hit by a vehicle over the weekend.
In an email sent to parents of children who attend Petit Scholars, Director LaShada Ham-Campbell wrote, “Ms. Irma is one of our beloved teachers at the South Campus and she was struck by a vehicle near her home in MD earlier this evening.”
“Ms. Irma is a beloved member of the PS South Campus and she has been for over a decade. This is devastating for her family and our community. If you pray, please pray for her and all who love her,” she continued.
According to the childcare center’s website, Bonilla is an infant assistant teacher.
“She’s lovely, she’s the baby whisper, she’s been there for over a decade. Kids across the neighborhood know her, love her,” said Jessica Hart, whose son was taught by Bonilla.
Hart said she was immediately impacted by the news.
“It’s her family, her friends, her co-workers,” she said. “The other teachers are really shaken by this horrible thing that happened.”
Hart, who is a member of Families for Safe Streets DC, created a GoFundMe to raise money to help cover medical expenses for Bonilla and her family. So far more than $38,000 has been collected as of Wednesday night. According to Hart, Bonilla is still in the ICU and is suffering from a traumatic brain injury.
“She is on her feet all day, holding babies, loving babies and she’s not going to be able to work. She’s in the ICU and that’s expensive,” Hart said. “Anything we can do to make it so her family is not worried about the very immediate concerns of paying hospital bills, paying just regular expenses, it really makes a big difference for people in this traumatic time.”
According to preliminary data from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, 161 pedestrians were killed in Maryland in 2023. In the District, 20 pedestrians were killed and in Virginia, 133 pedestrians were killed.
“At a very basic level, make a complete stop [at a stop sign]” Hart said, referring to how drivers can navigate the roads more safely.
Hart has been advocating for safer streets since her 5-year-old daughter was hit and killed by a driver while riding her bike in a crosswalk in 2021.
She said it’s paramount that drivers pay attention.
“Your couple seconds aren’t worth killing someone or severely injuring somebody and changing their life forever and your life forever,” she said.
In addition to raising money for Bonilla, she said families in the neighborhood are making lunches for teachers at Petit Scholars. As, well as picking their children up early this week and next week to ensure teachers are able to visit Bonilla at the hospital.
