Kansas mom stands trial for 'killing three girl scouts - including her own daughter, 8, after making U-turn in worst possible place'

A Kansas mom is standing trial accused of causing a car crash which killed three Girl Scouts, including her own eight-year-old daughter.

Jury selection has begun in the trial of Amber Peery, who allegedly triggered the fatal incident by attempting to U-Turn down a busy highway in October 2022. 

Prosecutors say Peery's Dodge van was traveling south on the on I-335 in Kansas when she tried to turn through the barrier wall on the turnpike and a Kenworth semi-truck ploughed into it.

Her daughter Brooklyn Peery, eight, along with Laila El Azari and Kylie Lunn, both nine, were killed in the collision. 

Peery was seen leaving court on a break from her hearing Monday. When reporters asked whether she had any comment, she simply said 'no' and speed-walked away.

Jury selection has begun in the trial of Amber Peery, who allegedly triggered the fatal incident by attempting to U-Turn down a busy highway in October 2022. (Pictured: Peery outside the courthouse on Monday) 

Kylie Lunn, 9, (above) also lost her life in the horrific crash off I-335

Her best friend, Laila El Azri (above), 9, was the third fatality in the crash

At the time of the crash, two more children were in Peery's van and one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.  

Peery also needed hospital treatment. She was eventually charged with seven counts related to the incident in June 2023. 

She is accused of three counts of reckless involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated battery, improper crossover on a divided highway, and failure to check for safe passage before passing from a single lane. 

The semi-tractor trailer truck was driven by Robert Hosey Russell, who was then 70. He was unharmed in the collision and has not been charged. 

Peery and the girls, all from Topeka, Kentucky, had been on their way to a Girl Scout event at the time of the crash. 

Peery was seen leaving court on a break from her hearing Monday. When reporters asked whether she had any comment, she simply said 'no' and speed-walked away

Pictured: Peery's vehicle after the crash in October 2022 

'I honestly don't know how I'm going to keep going without you, but I know I have to and everything I do will be with a purpose for you,' Peery wrote on Facebook after the crash 

Neighbors of Laila and Kylie set up a memorial site where the girls often played 

Shortly afterward, Peery shared a heartbreaking message to her deceased daughter over Facebook.  

'I honestly don't know how I'm going to keep going without you, but I know I have to and everything I do will be with a purpose for you,' she wrote at the time. 

'Mommy loves you so much sweet girl and all I want is to be able to hold you in my arms again.'

Residents told WIBW 13 at the time that cars frequently use the emergency U-turn opening by the barrier wall where Amber's car was hit. 

Also mourning her daughter was Tiffany Lunn, who said her daughter Kylie was best friends with fellow victim Laila. Both girls were fourth graders at Farley Elementary School.  

'She was my everything and I was her everything and my heart is just broken right now,' Tiffany wrote on Facebook. 

'I just don't know where to go from here, she was my purpose, she was my everything, I'm just lost without her.'

Robert Hosey Russell, 70, was driving the truck that struck the girl scouts. He did not suffer any injuries from the deadly crash