Driver whose car vaulted over tow truck says: 'I thought I was going to die'
A woman whose car was captured on video vaulting into the air over a tow truck on a Georgia highway says she's recovering after two weeks in the hospital and several surgeries
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman whose car was captured on video vaulting into the air over a tow truck and crashing onto a Georgia highway says she's recovering after spending two weeks in a hospital and undergoing several surgeries.
“I don’t really remember much, but I know that I thought I was going to die,” Tanaijsha Bruton told WALB-TV in an interview Tuesday. "It hurts really, really bad. I felt everything.”
A Lowndes County sheriff's deputy was responding to an earlier wreck May 24 when his body camera recorded Bruton's sedan flying into the air after driving up the ramp of a flatbed tow truck, which had stopped in the highway's opposite left lane.
The car soared 120 feet (37 meters) before landing upside down, according to a police report. It struck another vehicle and tumbled end over end before coming to rest.
“When I go to sleep that’s pretty much what I dream about," 21-year-old Bruton said. "It just replays over and over.”
Bruton was hospitalized in intensive care in neighboring Florida. She said her internal injuries required at least four surgeries and she's grateful to have survived.
And she was stunned by the video footage of the crash, once she finally saw it.
“My family didn’t want to show me the video,” Bruton said. “But of course, I’m hardheaded and got on social media.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.