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Girl hit by car in Greenwood, man believes divine intervention saved her life

GREENWOOD, Ind (WISH) — A teen is recovering in the hospital after she was hit by a vehicle while walking across the street during Greenwood’s Freedom Festival on Saturday. It happened at the intersection of Smith Valley Road and Madison Avenue.

Tyler Burton was at the Freedom Festival with friends from Vineyard Community Church. The group was passing out bottled water to visitors on the hot night, but Burton feels his purpose was much higher.

“I heard a loud screeching and then I looked over and I seen a girl flying in the air on the other side of the street,” he said.

Sometimes, the most frightening accidents turn out to be the most amazing miracles. Burton knows that better than anyone.

“When I initially seen what was going on, I instantly stepped out on Smith Valley and I yelled to the cars to stop, and I just kept walking and kept yelling stop,” he recalls.

Fourteen-year-old Shyanna Cummings was hit by the vehicle.

“From there I took off running and I ran up to the girl. While I was running up to her, she was seizing and twitching, laying on the road, her head propped up on a curb,” he said.

After screaming for people to call 911, Tyler says he turned to what he knows best — his faith. “I just instantly got down and I put my hand on her head and I just started praying,” he described. “And from there some guys around me grabbed my hand, and I just kept praying. Then, she instantly sat up, and it was like she was fine.”

Cummings was alert and talking, according to Burton. She was taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

“On Sunday after church, I actually went up to Riley Hospital to check on her and see how she was doing. Turns out, she’s walking away from this whole thing with just some minor fractures and a torn ACL,” he said.

Burton says it’s a blessing that he was in the right place at the right time, “I was there for a reason. I was right there in that spot in that moment — all for a divine purpose.”

According to Burton, Shyanna is expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday. He says she is in good spirits and, after three nights hospitalized, ready to go home.