She pushed one-year-old Adison Jenkins and two-year-old Emma Jenkins to safety.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 5pm on Monday. Kiera was taken to Sharp Grossmont Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Kiera has been described as a ‘big sister’ to the two girls.
Alissa Jenkins, mother of the two girls Kiera saved, said: ‘She saved both my daughters’ lives. She is truly a hero. She will forever be my kids’ guardian angel.
‘These are my two kids that I have and both of them could’ve been gone in an instant and she stepped in and took over and did what she knows best to do – and that’s to protect those around her.’
Her fiancé, Jonathan Gusich, added: ‘She was a big sister to them. She was always looking out for them and apparently she gave her life for my kids.
‘I don’t know how to repay them, repay her. She must have been the guardian angel yesterday and they’re here because of her.’
California Highway Patrol officer Kevin Pearlstein said: ‘A child died heroically, I mean if you think about it, she sacrificed herself for another small child.
‘We’re going to do an inspection on the vehicle, find out why this happened, find out if there was some sort of malfunction on the vehicle and go from there.’
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