Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
OGDEN — A woman ejected and critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash is taking huge steps in her recovery.
The collision happened on Interstate 15 at the 2700 North on-ramp in Ogden on Oct. 11.
Molly Leavitt was on her way to work one month ago when things took a turn, and she was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital with critical injuries.
"She was going up the on-ramp at 2700 North and she clipped the car in front of her. I'm thinking it hit the tire, which is probably what caused her to swerve to the left," her husband, Curtis Leavitt said.
He got a call about his wife from a stranger on the freeway.
"There was a nurse that was getting on the freeway right behind her, heading to work," Curtis Leavitt said. "She was able to be there to hold her head and keep her steady. She was unconscious at the moment."
"It didn't look promising," Curtis Leavitt said.
According to Utah Highway Patrol, Molly Leavitt's jeep rear-ended a car ahead of her on the on-ramp.
"She shot out into the traffic, sideways, and there was a semitruck in the middle lane where his front passenger, her front driver, nicked each other, shot her back over into the on-ramp," Curtis Leavitt said.
Curtis said his wife's jeep landed abruptly in the dirt, knocking her driver's side door open.
"She snapped both of her bones in both arms, and then I'm sure she tumbled a few times, smacking her head down," he said.
He said doctors and nurses weren't optimistic about her recovery when they got to the hospital.
"She's proven the doctors wrong," Curtis Leavitt said.
After more than two weeks, he said she regained consciousness. The kindergarten teacher is now talking and walking, despite her fractured skull that pressed into her brain.
"She made it about 15 or 20 feet one way, and then walked back to her bed," Curtis Leavitt said. "She's alert. She knows what's going on."
He started the Molly Strong FaceBook page to post daily updates along with tributes to her. Molly is a kindergarten teacher in Davis County.
"We're right now like over 860 people that joined into that group," Curtis Leavitt said.
Wearing the seat belt. I was bad at it. Not anymore.
–Curtis Leavitt
He said the crash forced him to stop a bad habit.
"Wearing the seatbelt. I was bad at it," he said. "Not anymore. That one thing can literally change your life."
Molly wasn't wearing one.
"She could have came home that same day, maybe a little whiplash or something, but the seatbelt ... it's definitely a lifesaver," Curtis Leavitt said.
A GoFundMe has been set up. Donations are also accepted through America First Credit Union.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
