Youth Sponsor Suffered Severe Injuries in Deadly Head-On Collision
Last month, Kelli Mellema’s life changed forever when a car drifted across the center line and collided head-on into the church van in which she was a passenger. Kelli suffered catastrophic injuries, including third degree burns, a broken vertebra, a broken tailbone and devastating injuries to both legs. Kelli almost died that night. But, surrounded by loved ones, the 30 year-old woman has made a miraculous recovery, especially considering the severity and extent of her injuries.
However, doctors were not able to save her severely injured leg. Her family announced that doctors would amputate Kelli’s left leg below the knee this week. Doctors are still working to save her right leg.
Two People Died in Head-On Collision
As a youth sponsor at the Faith Center Assembly of God in Graham, Texas, Kelli was in a van travelling to a youth function with four kids and three other adults on March 6. Just after 5 p.m., a Mitsubishi travelling north crossed into the southbound lane on State Highway 337 near Mineral Wells and slammed into the church van. The van flipped over and slid down a ravine into a tree. First responders worked feverishly to extract the occupants from the upside down vehicle, but could not reach them for 30 minutes.
Van passenger 40-year-old Stacey Daily died the next day at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. The 34 year-old driver of the Mitsubishi, Jessica Lee Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining van occupants, ranging in age from 11 to 49 years, were rushed to local North Texas hospitals in Mineral Wells and Forth Worth with varying degrees of injuries.
Investigators believe that the driver of the 1999 Chevrolet van took defensive action toward the northbound lane to avoid the Mitsubishi. The driver of the Mitsubishi also attempted to correct her actions. The two vehicles then collided in the northbound lane.
Everybody in the van was wearing seat belts at the time of the auto collision. It’s hard to imagine, but the outcome of the accident really could have been worse without seat belts. Other passengers might have been killed or suffered even worse injuries.
Berenson Law Firm Represents Catastrophically Injured Victims
Our hearts go out to the families of the people who lost their lives in this horrific accident and to the victims still recovering from their injuries. And our thoughts are with Kelli at this difficult time.
Berenson Law Firm is dedicated exclusively to auto accident recovery. For a free comprehensive claim analysis, call our Dallas-Fort Worth office at 817-885-8000. We are here to help you.