A local teenager is in a Tucson hospital recovering from her injuries last Wednesday afternoon.

According to officials from the Douglas Police Dept. shortly before 1:30 p.m. May 23 Douglas Police Department personnel and Douglas Fire Department personnel responded to the Airport Park, located at the 1200 block of Airport Road for an injured person.

Reports were a 16-year old female who is a sophomore at Douglas High School, had possibly fallen from a vehicle during the last day of school activity, where students were throwing water balloons at each other, and may have head injuries.

Douglas Police Officers arrived and found the female juvenile was injured and that she needed medical attention. Douglas Fire Personnel arrived on the scene and transported her to Southeast Arizona Medical Center, where after being stabilized; she was flown to a Tucson Hospital for further medical attention.

Sgt. Jose Duarte of the Douglas Police Dept. said the preliminary information at this time, appears that the juvenile was in a pickup truck that was occupied by several other juveniles.

“Witnesses at the scene stated that the juvenile may have been seated on the tailgate of the truck, when other juveniles rushed the truck and the tailgate was pulled open,” he said. “The juvenile fell off the truck, which was stationary at the time, striking her head on the parking lot asphalt.”

Sgt. Duarte said a second juvenile also fell and sustained minor injuries (scratches to her arms) but refused any further medical attention.

“The incident is still under investigation and no citations have been issued,” he said

Douglas Police Officers were able to speak with the driver of the vehicle and other people at scene, being that they all stayed in place until police arrived.

The Douglas Police Department would like to remind parents, students and any driver’s that having people in the bed of the truck can be dangerous and all occupants should be seated on the bed floor and not on the tailgate or rail area.