Crash Survivor Builds New Life
By Libby Smith
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo (CBS4) - Last year, Jefferson County had 2,237 vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. That's the second highest number in the state, behind only Denver County which had 2,421. Distracted driving is a growing problem, not only in Colorado but across the county and it's having deadly consequences.
"It's traumatizing still to this day, being able to remember it as clearly as I do," said Lyndsey Petrie, who survived a deadly car crash two years ago.
Petrie was driving with her friend, Lyneah Dike, when headlights came at them head-on. She said it happened in seconds, there was no time to react. Petrie suffered a shattered femur in one leg, a broken femur in the other leg, a broken arm, and broken bones in her ankle and foot. She underwent nearly a half-dozen surgeries to fix the damage.
"I just have an inch difference in my legs so I just have one more surgery to go through," Petrie explained.
Worse than her injuries, Petrie lost her best friend in the crash. Dike died at the scene.
"We were really close, so it's just sometimes it's weird to think about her. It's like a little bit too much," Petrie told CBS4.
The teens were hit by David Bunn. Police say Bunn had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, and that he was texting in the seconds before the crash. He pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, and vehicular assault. Petrie spoke at the sentencing.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 'Drunk Driver Who Killed Teen, Injured Another Sentenced To 28 Years'
"It was hard. It was probably like the hardest thing to do, but I felt like I spoke for Lyneah," Petrie said.
Bunn was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Petrie said that she's satisfied with the sentence, even though nothing will take back what happened.
"It's pretty fresh. It feels like I almost popped into a new life. You know, when it happened, I just started a whole new life with different goals," Petrie said.
She went from being a 17-year-old high school student, to a patient who struggled to heal and walk again. Now she walks without even the help of a cane. She's engaged to be married, and expecting a new baby. The baby is due in seven weeks, two days after the anniversary of the accident. Petrie said she plans to name her little girl, Evelyn Lyneah Sanchez.
Petrie's one message for everyone is to stop and think twice before you do something that could have such deadly consequences.
Driving safety will be a big component of the Jefferson County District Attorney's Safety Fair. There will be distracted driving demonstrations, lessons on teen driving safety, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will be there. The Fair is Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
There will be more than 80 booths this year including information on:
-- Teen driving safety
--Living safely with wildlife
--Water and boating safety
--Elder abuse issues
--Emergency preparedness
--Fraud and identity theft safety
--Mental health and well-being
--Fire safety
--Veterans benefits.
You can get up to five boxes of documents shredded, and drop of unneeded prescription drugs. Bring your old cell phones in and they'll use them as emergency 911 phones for senior citizens. You can get a child ID kit made free of charge, and kids can get a free bike helmet for participating in the bicycle rodeo. CHEEZO will be on hand with important online and cell phone safety information for children and parents.
LINK: Jefferson County District Attorney's Safety Fair
Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.
