‘I’m really hurt:’ Teen describes moments after school bus crash near Tucson
MARANA, AZ (AZFamily) — Several students from Kingman and Lee Williams high schools are still recovering over one week after their bus flipped over when it collided with an SUV on a freeway just outside of Tucson.
Julie Holmes’ daughter Katie was on that bus. It was an unexpected phone call that she says every parent worries about getting.
“I answered it, and it was Katie,” she said. “‘Mom, I’ve been in an accident. I’m hurt.’ I was like, okay, Katie it’s April Fool’s Day that’s not funny. And she’s said, ‘No, mom, we rolled the bus I’m really hurt,’” said Holmes as she recalled the phone call, “my heart just dropped.”
Katie, a junior at Lee Williams High School in Kingman, was one of several students and teachers injured during a horrific bus crash last Tuesday on Interstate 10 near Marana.
Holmes said it will be a long road of recovery for her daughter as Katie likely loses some range of motion in her right arm. “She lost some the top layer of muscle in her forearm. She lost the ligament in her elbow. She grounded part of the humerus,” said Holmes as she described just some of the extent of the injuries to her daughter.
Katie has had numerous surgeries and skin grafts following the crash. Arizona’s Family spoke with her over the phone.
“Honestly, I’m doing pretty good with the pain meds they got me on. I was lucky to get some good pain management after a few of the surgeries,” said Katie. “I’m kind of here taking it day by day. Just keep moving forward. I’m trying to make sure I’m treating my arm well, so it heals.”
When the crash happened, Katie was working on last-minute prep for a presentation.
“I didn’t end up looking up until just before we rolled. It was just this sense of like, okay, here we go this is happening,” said Katie. After the bus rolled over and the dust settled, Katie remembered being in extreme pain but was able to walk out of the bus.
“I ended up walking about like 15 feet before I laid down.” Katie said someone who saw the crash pulled over and rushed to her aid. “There was this lovely young woman. Her name was Nikki, she gave me a jacket to put my head on. She actually was the one who lent me her phone to call my mom. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have had my mom here as soon as I did,” said Katie.
This mysterious person continued to check on Katie at the hospital. While Katie didn’t know who exactly she was, she couldn’t be more grateful. “She was so lovely, and I really want to thank her. She made a big difference.”
Holmes said many students are facing some sort of PTSD following the crash, including those who weren’t severely injured. She said many cannot sleep or do not want to ride in vehicles.
She also said the Kingman community is rallying together. Dozens of people have sent Katie get-well cards and letters of encouragement.
Authorities arrested 30-year-old Nicolas Rodriguez in connection to the crash. He faces three felony counts of aggravated assault. State troopers say Rodriguez tested positive for marijuana at the time of the crash. He is expected to be in court next week.
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