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Lillia Bartlow: California cheerleader who rose to fame after surviving hit by taxi dies at 16

On the day of her immediate death, Lillia Bartlow was not feeling well and she reportedly had been experiencing strong headaches

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA: A California cheerleader who previously suffered serious injuries after being hit by a taxi died on Friday, March 18. Lillia Bartlow, 16, who was a student at Berkeley High School, died at her family's home in California, according to her family and school officials.

In 2016, Lillia who was 9 at the time, survived being hit by a taxi in California. On the day of her immediate death, she was not feeling well and she reportedly had been experiencing strong headaches since January this year. However, the cause of the problem was not diagnosed, reported People.

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'I was living with an angel' 

Lillia's grieving father Darryl Bartlow said, "I was living with an angel. She was as near perfect as a human being can be." The Berkeley Unified School District described the girl as "a wonderful and promising young person who will be deeply missed at Berkeley High School and in the BUSD community," according to SFGATE.

The high school sophomore was a fourth grader when she was struck by a taxi in March 2016. The incident that took place outside of John Muir Elementary School left her out of school for nearly four months as both her legs were broken. 

'A smile we will never forget'

Following the crash, the young girl found it difficult to continue gymnastics and thereafter, she chose cheerleading. Bartlow joined the varsity cheerleading squad of the school last spring. In a statement on Twitter, the school's athletic department wrote, "Our hearts break with the tragic passing of Lillia Bartlow. Great person, student, athlete, and cheer teammate." The social media post shared Baltrow's smiling photographs in her cheerleading uniform.

"A smile we will never forget, a laugh we will miss hearing, and an energy we will always remember, we love you Lillia. thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives, and into the lives of so many. you were such a light, and we miss you endlessly," the team's post continued.

"You never failed to light up a room and fill it with such contagious energy, we love and miss you dearly, and will celebrate your spirit eternally," the team continued. "We are sending all of our love and prayers to her family, friends, and all those who have experienced her wondrous presence. Please remember to take time for yourselves, feel your feelings, and know we are all here to support one another," the post concluded.