A young woman was found in an alley near the school last week Tuesday after an icy accident where she crashed into Split Rock Creek.
Luckily, despite being wet and in temperatures around 0 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours, she survived.
The 19-year-old woman had been driving east into Garretson early Tuesday morning and failed to stay on the road as she approached the 5th Street bridge.
The vehicle, a white SUV, flipped and ended upright in the middle of the creek facing west.
It was reported to the Gazette that when she was first discovered, police and emergency services initially thought that she was simply dead. Miraculously she was still breathing. Her body temperature was 75 degrees or less when she was rushed to the emergency room with severe frostbite.
Alcohol was a factor in the accident, and the victim's mother, Luci Gill, wrote on Garretson Living, "Please never drink and drive!" The young woman has a long road to recovery ahead of her.
"This girl is tough as nails with amazing determination!" wrote Gill. "She is up and walking with a walker or crutches and will be out of ICU as soon as a bed on a different floor opens. Her left toes are a concern but she is making progress!
“As a busy 19-year-old she is getting frustrated with not being able to get around without help. Also, additional treatment for her toes will start tomorrow. Garretson has some amazing residents and all of the help, support, kind words and positive vibes and prayers are working and saved her life. Please never drink and drive!"
Gill continued later, "Update! She has gone through 4 treatments of oxygen therapy and is out of ICU! Also, she is able to walk around her room with a walker due to no weight bearing on the left foot. We are very proud of her!"
