| NEWS
| December 1, 2005
Accident
Student wakes from 7-day coma
Doctors optimistic for a full
recovery; criminal investigation pending.
By Heather
Ann White
The Shorthorn staff
Biology sophomore Ashley Willis, who lapsed into a coma after a
car accident last week, has regained consciousness, said Willis’
mother, Sheila.
Ashley Willis, who was care flighted to East Medical Center in Tyler,
began to wake up and opened her eyes for an hour Wednesday, Sheila
Willis said.
Ashley Willis was traveling home to Houston for Thanksgiving on
Nov. 23 when two drivers reportedly harassed her while driving on
Interstate 45 between Centerville and Bastrop, Texas. Sheila Willis
said her daughter called her, frantically complaining of the drivers
and that she attempted to exit the highway when her back tire skidded,
causing her truck to flip and hit a tree. Sheila Willis said her
daughter might have been hit from behind or chased off the road.
Ashley Willis had surgery on her broken jaw, a steel plate inserted
in her chin and a tracheotomy.
“[Ashley] was a little panicky today when she opened her eyes,”
her mother said. “She was very scared. That’s normal
when people first wake up and they don’t know what’s
going on.”
Sheila Willis said her daughter was put on a ventilator to stabilize
her breathing and to help her calm down. She said that even though
Ashley Willis isn’t able to speak after having her mouth wired
shut, she is communicating.
“She throws her stuffed animals at the nurses to get their
attention,” Sheila Willis said. “If she’s hurting,
she’ll let you know.”
Sheila Willis said the doctors are optimistic that Ashley will make
a full recovery.
“It was really good to see her open her eyes today,”
she said. “Everyone just keep praying.”
Ashley Willis’ boyfriend Kevin Pierson, a public relations
senior, said she has already had two surgeries and could possibly
have more. He said she will likely be transported to the Texas Institute
for Rehabilitation and Research , a specialized center in Houston,
on Friday or Saturday.
“It’s a really hard thing to deal with,” he said.
“But [the family] is getting a lot of support … and
the doctors seem optimistic.”
Sheila Willis said the Bastrop and Centerville police are conducting
a criminal investigation but that she has not heard any new information
about the case.
The officers conducting the investigation could not be reached Wednesday.
CORRECTION
This story should have stated that Ashley Willis
was transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.
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| Ashley
Willis
biology sophomore
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