Months after a devastating crash left her with life-threatening injuries, beauty queen Kiara Bowling has returned to the Oakland intersection where she was struck by a vehicle driven by two young children. Bowling, who was walking her friend's dog at the time of the incident, spoke about her recovery and her perspective on the event.
"I feel blessed to be here and to still be able to walk," Bowling said, reflecting on the severity of the collision. "It feels good that I survived this, because this looks like a situation where an incident happened that was very traumatic and probably didn’t have any survivors."
The crash occurred when two brothers, aged 4 and 6, took their parents' car keys while the adults were asleep. Witnesses and police reported that the children drove at high speed, with one steering and the other operating the pedals. The vehicle sideswiped another car before colliding with Bowling and a fence.
Bowling sustained multiple severe injuries, including brain bleeds, a traumatic brain injury, and facial fractures. The dog, Grizzly, also suffered injuries but survived. Due to the severity of her brain trauma, Bowling has no memory of the crash itself and only began to recall events in mid-September while in the hospital.
Bystanders, including Lavelle Shah-Marquis and Rita Macina, rushed to Bowling's aid after the collision, administering CPR and offering comfort until paramedics arrived. When Bowling revisited the intersection, some of these individuals were there to support her.
Prior to the accident, Bowling, who held the title of Ms. California Regency International for 2026, was on track to graduate and pursue a career in law. The collision necessitated a long recovery period, during which she had to relearn basic functions like walking, talking, and eating. Doctors estimate her recovery could take up to two years.
Despite the traumatic experience, Bowling stated that she harbors no ill will towards the children involved. When asked if she had forgiven them, she replied, "Yes, I do forgive them."