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Girl, 3, Dies After Getting Head Stuck In Car Window

Life Support Shut Off For New Year's Eve Accident Victim

POSTED: 4:54 am MST January 5, 2006

A Colorado Springs couple was relying on family, friends and faith Thursday, to help them deal with the sudden tragic death of their 3-year-old daughter.

Sarah Lynn Gaerlan was critically injured on New Year's Eve when she accidentally touched a rocker switch inside a car, closing an electric window on her throat.

Sarah and other children were alone inside a 1992 Mercury Sable station wagon when the accident occurred.

She died around 9 p.m., Wednesday, shortly after being removed from life support.

Family friend Berry Huffman said that Becky and Wayne Gaerlan are devastated over the loss of their daughter, who was being remembered for her love of music and singing.

Police are not recommending charges against the couple.

The Gaerlans arranged for Sarah to be an organ donor.

Over the last couple of decades, 58 deaths and hundreds of injuries have occurred in the United States because of power windows on vehicles. A study by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis estimated that 500 people annually are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to power windows.

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