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Nearly a year after a crash killed their infant daughter and injured their other child, an Oklahoma family is sharing their story to highlight coordinated trauma care and warn against impaired driving.
An Oklahoma family says their world was shattered in an instant after a crash last August that left one child dead, another seriously injured, and their family forever changed.
Derrick and Stephanie were driving home to Meeker with their two young daughters when, investigators say, an impaired driver rear-ended their stopped vehicle at high speed. The impact set off a chain-reaction crash that sent their vehicle into a semi-trailer.
“We were shoved into the intersection where we hit a semi-trailer so hard that we broke an axle and blew out a front tire,” Stephanie said.
The family lost their 11-month-old daughter, Natalie Jade, and their dog. Their older daughter, Madalynn, survived but suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and is now confined to a wheelchair.
“As far as being your typical three-year-old, she’s not that anymore,” Stephanie said. “Losing my girl was hard enough and losing who Madalynn was has been really difficult.”
The family was rushed to OU Health’s Level 1 Trauma Center in Oklahoma City, where doctors say a coordinated team of specialists worked quickly to stabilize multiple critically injured patients.
“That’s what we’re prepared for, are dealing with multiple injured patients at a time,” said Dr. Alyssa Cross, OU Health Adult Trauma Medical Director. “We have the luxury of having multiple subspecialties in-house 24/7.”
Despite their losses, the family says Madalynn continues to make progress.
“Even though she’s not who she used to be, you can see glimpses of her in there,” Stephanie said. “She’s still sassy. She still rolls her eyes.
“She fights every day,” Derrick added. “Each and every day she shows up, she does what she can, she’s making good progress.”
Investigators say the driver, Michael Figueroa, rear-ended the family’s vehicle at about 75 miles per hour. He is charged with first-degree manslaughter and two counts of DUI causing great bodily injury. Court records show a plea and sentencing hearing is set for July.
The family says they are sharing their story to honor Natalie Jade, highlight the role of coordinated Level 1 trauma care, and warn others about the dangers of impaired driving.
“Don’t drink and drive,” Stephanie said. “Don’t do this to another family.”
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