Woman Plunges 70 Feet From Bridge After Surviving Freeway Pile-Up
Kyra Kinnison was checking on her boyfriend after a four-car crash when she fell from Highway K-18, sustaining critical injuries.
A Kansas State University student miraculously survived a major highway pile-up only to fall an estimated 70 feet from a bridge, an incident her boyfriend described as "Final Destination-style." Kyra Kinnison, 20, lost most of her memory after the fall in Ogden.
Her boyfriend, Dalten Grabast, who had been involved in the initial four-car collision, told the Daily Mail that Kinnison had exited her vehicle to check on his well-being after the crash. It was then that she noticed a car speeding toward her on the highway.
In an effort to avoid a collision, Kinnison swerved and inadvertently fell off the edge of Highway K-18. Grabast recounted the agonizing 30 minutes that followed as first responders worked to recover Kinnison, during which time he was unsure of her condition.
"She doesn't really remember much of it happening at all," Grabast said. "The truck coming at her is the last thing she remembers."
First responders utilized "high-angle rescue equipment" to retrieve Kinnison from below the bridge. She was found in critical condition and transported to a hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, before being moved to Topeka for further treatment.
A friend of Kinnison's, Sara Celeen, told the Daily Mail that Kinnison fell through trees and rolled down a slope, narrowly missing obstacles like rocks and barbed wire. Celeen has established a GoFundMe page to assist with Kinnison's medical bills and rent during her recovery.
Kinnison sustained fractures to her back, including several vertebrae, as well as fractures to her pelvis and tailbone. Her hip realignment surgery, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed to Friday. Grabast noted that it was a miracle she was able to walk with the aid of a walker less than 48 hours after the accident.
Kinnison, an animal science and production management major, is described by Celeen as a "very intelligent, beautiful, friendly, generous young woman" with extensive knowledge of animals. Kinnison's mother has traveled from North Carolina to assist with her care. Grabast stated that he and Kinnison's mother plan to care for her at his residence once she is released from the hospital, and they are awaiting details regarding her long-term physical therapy.