BARCELONA, Spain — A 31-year-old Wausau native vacationing in Barcelona, Spain, died after being struck by a taxi, according to international media reports.
Shannon (Porter) Smith, a 2006 Wausau West High School graduate, was six months pregnant when she was struck Tuesday while crossing the street at a busy intersection, according to a Barcelona newspaper. She was treated by paramedics with the help of police officers before being transported to the nearby Sant Pau hospital in a critical condition.
A city council press statement said Smith and the baby she was carrying both died after an emergency cesarean was performed to try and save the baby.
Local media reports state the taxi driver was forced to undergo a breathalyzer test and tested negative for alcohol and drug consumption.
Smith’s husband, Scott Smith, was with his wife but was not harmed. The couple lived in Madison where Shannon Smith worked as a nurse, according to friends of the family.
A fundraising effort is underway to cover medical expenses, travel costs for family, accommodations in Barcelona and extended time away from work as the family makes arrangements to transport Shannon and her baby home. The process is expected to take about two weeks.
To donate, visit the Fundraiser for Scott Smith GoFundMe page.
