California girl, 16, who shot to fame after surviving being struck by taxi and breaking both legs aged nine dies suddenly at home after complaining of painful headaches

By Will Potter For Dailymail.Com

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A teenage girl who captured headlines seven years ago after being mown down by a taxi has died suddenly after complaining about painful headaches. Lillia Bartlow (pictured), 16, became a local celebrity in 2016 after she was hit by an oncoming taxi and broke both her legs, before she made a miraculous recovery and became a star cheerleader at Berkeley High School in California. But the academically gifted teen, who spoke three languages and was undertaking the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program, began experiencing intense headaches in January. The reason behind her recent struggle with migraines had not been diagnosed. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

A teenage girl who captured headlines seven years ago after being mown down by a taxi has died suddenly after complaining about painful headaches. Lillia Bartlow (pictured), 16, became a local celebrity in 2016 after she was hit by an oncoming taxi and broke both her legs, before she made a miraculous recovery and became a star cheerleader at Berkeley High School in California. But the academically gifted teen, who spoke three languages and was undertaking the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program, began experiencing intense headaches in January. The reason behind her recent struggle with migraines had not been diagnosed. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

According to the Berkeley Scanner, the 16-year-old went home early from school on Friday, before she tragically died just hours later in her home. 'I was living with an angel,' said her father, Darryl Bartlow (pictured with Lillia). 'She was as near perfect as perfect can be in a human being.' The schoolgirl's unexpected death has shaken her Berkeley community, where she became a local hero after surviving the horror collision in 2016. Tiffany Sutherland, the teenager's cheerleading coach, said she and Lillia's teammates are devastated by the news of her passing. 'Her energy and her smile and her laugh — it helped the morale of everyone,' she said. 'She never gave me a hard day, she never missed practice, she never missed a game.' Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

According to the Berkeley Scanner, the 16-year-old went home early from school on Friday, before she tragically died just hours later in her home. 'I was living with an angel,' said her father, Darryl Bartlow (pictured with Lillia). 'She was as near perfect as perfect can be in a human being.' The schoolgirl's unexpected death has shaken her Berkeley community, where she became a local hero after surviving the horror collision in 2016. Tiffany Sutherland, the teenager's cheerleading coach, said she and Lillia's teammates are devastated by the news of her passing. 'Her energy and her smile and her laugh — it helped the morale of everyone,' she said. 'She never gave me a hard day, she never missed practice, she never missed a game.' Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

Less than a month before her unexpected death, Bartlow joined her cheerleading team as she met California Congresswoman Barbara Lee during the official's recent Senate campaign launch. Speaking to KRON at the time of the accident, Lillia's mother Khadija said the taxi hit them both when they were crossing the street at around 7:40pm. The car crushed the then-fourth grader, and her mother heartbreakingly told the outlet:'He took her away from me, and she was still holding my hand, and I had to let her go.' It was just a blackout, and then I found myself on the ground,' added the youngster. Following months of excruciating recovery, she began attending basketball games at her future high school, which lit the fire for her to later join the cheerleading team six years later. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

Less than a month before her unexpected death, Bartlow joined her cheerleading team as she met California Congresswoman Barbara Lee during the official's recent Senate campaign launch. Speaking to KRON at the time of the accident, Lillia's mother Khadija said the taxi hit them both when they were crossing the street at around 7:40pm. The car crushed the then-fourth grader, and her mother heartbreakingly told the outlet:'He took her away from me, and she was still holding my hand, and I had to let her go.' It was just a blackout, and then I found myself on the ground,' added the youngster. Following months of excruciating recovery, she began attending basketball games at her future high school, which lit the fire for her to later join the cheerleading team six years later. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

Bartlow captured the hearts of her local community during her struggle. Her family was told she may have had to use a wheelchair for well over a year following the crash, but she made a miraculous recovery and was walking again within months. The collision also led to escalating calls for the local authority to step up street lighting in the area, which were made quickly after the accident. 'I just want to let people know to be careful,' Lillia said at the time. 'If you are crossing a place where there is no lights, be careful for the cars. I wouldn’t wish it on an enemy to have to bear witness to their child, suffering the way she does,' added her father. Seven years on, heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the youngster after news of her sudden death spread throughout the community. Moni Law, a family friend, said the sophomore carried a 'sweet and vibrant demeanor' and was a 'lovely person inside and out.' Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

Bartlow captured the hearts of her local community during her struggle. Her family was told she may have had to use a wheelchair for well over a year following the crash, but she made a miraculous recovery and was walking again within months. The collision also led to escalating calls for the local authority to step up street lighting in the area, which were made quickly after the accident. 'I just want to let people know to be careful,' Lillia said at the time. 'If you are crossing a place where there is no lights, be careful for the cars. I wouldn’t wish it on an enemy to have to bear witness to their child, suffering the way she does,' added her father. Seven years on, heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the youngster after news of her sudden death spread throughout the community. Moni Law, a family friend, said the sophomore carried a 'sweet and vibrant demeanor' and was a 'lovely person inside and out.' Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

'She had an infectious enthusiasm for life and people,' she continued. 'She had a maturity beyond her years. It was impressive how hard she worked to recover from that horrific car incident in 2016.' Her cheerleading coach added that the teen's sudden loss will be felt throughout the team, and described her as a cheerleader for the cheerleader program. 'She would always be the one to come on and say something sweet,' said Sutherland. 'Listening to her laugh was just infectious.' Her recent successes also included joining her local College Bound Academy, an organization that helps promising students enter college. As news of her death poured in, the non-profit said: 'Words cannot express how sad our College Bound Academy family is right now. We will forever remember our College Bound Berkeley Academy Scholar, Lillia Bartlow! Such an inspiring and intelligent CB Scholar full of life.' 'Our hearts go out to the family of Lillia Bartlow at this very difficult time. Lillia was a wonderful and promising young person who will be deeply missed at Berkeley High School and in the BUSD community,' said the Berkeley Unified School District in a statement to SFGATE. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

'She had an infectious enthusiasm for life and people,' she continued. 'She had a maturity beyond her years. It was impressive how hard she worked to recover from that horrific car incident in 2016.' Her cheerleading coach added that the teen's sudden loss will be felt throughout the team, and described her as a cheerleader for the cheerleader program. 'She would always be the one to come on and say something sweet,' said Sutherland. 'Listening to her laugh was just infectious.' Her recent successes also included joining her local College Bound Academy, an organization that helps promising students enter college. As news of her death poured in, the non-profit said: 'Words cannot express how sad our College Bound Academy family is right now. We will forever remember our College Bound Berkeley Academy Scholar, Lillia Bartlow! Such an inspiring and intelligent CB Scholar full of life.' 'Our hearts go out to the family of Lillia Bartlow at this very difficult time. Lillia was a wonderful and promising young person who will be deeply missed at Berkeley High School and in the BUSD community,' said the Berkeley Unified School District in a statement to SFGATE. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11896487/California-girl-16-survived-hit-taxi-breaking-legs-aged-nine-dies-suddenly.html?ito=msngallery

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