COLUMBIA, S.C. — A former Spring Valley High School student and Columbia native remains in critical condition on Thursday after being hit by a car over the weekend.
London Harrell, 21, is a University of Central Florida (UCF) senior and was struck by an impaired driver near the campus in Orlando.
Yousuf Hasan, 25, hit another driver minutes before hitting Harrell. Hasan fled the scene and was found later, sleeping on the ground behind his vehicle in a parking lot, according to Florida Highway Patrol incident reports.
The incident report states troopers suspect Hasan was under the influence of drugs at the time and that they took a blood sample.
A Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman says Hasan is charged with two felonies including DUI and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.
Roc Swindler, who is Harrell’s cousin, says she is a smart, loving, and kind young woman.
He added that he and the rest of the family are trying to stay positive.
“It's very easy to focus on the sadness it creates or the anger and her mother Paula, her father Mike, have really chosen to take a different route and to focus on the wonderful life London is leading,” said Swindler.
It’s a life Swindler said is focused on giving back and making a difference.
“Her picture is on the Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando because she is one of the top fundraisers nationally for the Children's Miracle Network,” he said.
Harrell is a rising senior in UCF's hospitality management program. She loves dancing and music, going to Disney World with her friends, and college football.
“Well London is just ridiculously amazing, and she is an absolute rockstar of a person. Everyone that's just encountered London loves her. And I think that's why the community has gone so viral in their support of her and her family through this tragedy,” Swindler said as he tried to hold back tears.
While they hope she recovers in an Orlando hospital, they're asking for prayers and good deeds.
“Compliment a stranger, pay it forward, hug your children, call a relative that you haven't seen in a long time and tell them you love. Let's all try to be amazingly London today,” Swindler said.
"There's strength in prayer. And that is where they are finding their strength right now. So that is one of our main things we're asking of friends, family, and those that have learned about London. Is pray, there is strength in prayer, and those prayers are reaching London. They're helping her, they're making her stronger, they're making her family stronger. So, please continue to pray for London," Swindler added.
Harrell graduated from Spring Valley High in 2016.
Harrell’s favorite color is purple and family and friends are putting purple ribbons on their doors in a sign of support.
The family is also planning a prayer vigil on Friday at the Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood at 8 pm, they're asking for people to wear purple.
UCF and Harrell's sorority are planning a prayer service in Orlando at the same time Friday night, according to the family.
