Salon Raises Money For Girl Hurt in Selmon DUI Wreck

Summer Moll doesn't have much hair, and what little she has is covered by a white bandage.

Today, though, the 5-year-old, who was critically injured in a head-on crash in September, was busy taking care of other people's hair - or at least pretending to. Summer got to play stylist at The Salon and Spa at Mystic Hair in Carrollwood. The shop opened on a Sunday to raise money for Summer's medical bills, which are about $3 million, according to her grandmother, Tammy Rosian.

"I'm not worried," she said. "My main concern is Summer and her well-being. I'll deal with the other stuff as it's coming along."

Rosian has been raising Summer since the girl's mother, Jennifer O'Boyle, died in the Sept. 10 crash on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway. Cheryl Maria Riemann, 26, smashed into O'Boyle's car after driving the wrong way on the expressway's lower deck. She is awaiting trial on charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.

Salon owners came up with the idea of a fundraiser after Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies asked them if they would be willing to donate a free day of beauty to Rosian, who said she has been too busy to get a haircut since the crash.

The owners did the deputies one better by organizing today's event. There was a festival-like atmosphere in the salon, as a DJ played music before a live band took the stage. Customers signed up for $25 haircuts, $30 minifacials and $30 massages. Co-owner Chris Pearson said the 24 stylists working today had a new customer every 45 minutes.

By mid-afternoon, the salon was close to its goal of raising $10,000, he said. All of that is going to Summer.

A crew from Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 3 collected money to buy pulled pork, coleslaw and beans for the fundraiser, Capt. Jace Kohan said. After driving Summer and her grandmother to the salon in a fire truck, firefighters set up a smoker outside.

Inside, Summer's father Joshua Moll laid his head back in a shampoo sink while his daughter sprayed water on his hair. When she was done, Summer turned, smiled and said, "Next!"

The bandage is protecting an open wound at the top of Summer's skull, Rosian said. She watched her granddaughter closely to make sure nothing bumped into her head. Summer is scheduled for a skin graft in September to close the wound and allow hair to grow back. She doesn't seem to miss her long, flowing locks that could be tied into pigtails, her grandmother said.

"She has the best outlook in life," Rosian said. "She keeps bouncing back. She's walking now, and it's full steam ahead. She's constant, constant 'go.'"

That's exactly what Summer did for much of today. Wearing a pink shirt with the words "social butterfly" on the front, Summer flitted from group to group, saying hello. She also spent a few minutes running a lemonade stand.

Her father asked her if there was anything she would like to say about the people who came out to see and help her.

"It was really nice of them to be here," Summer said. "Thanks everybody!"