What was meant to be a joyful night for the VanHorn family turned into a nightmare that would change their lives forever.
Kim, Sam, and their son Alex had been celebrating Alex’s success in his marching band, but their drive home from the event took a tragic turn when they were involved in a devastating crash on I-96 near Webberville, Michigan.
The crash, which occurred late on a Sunday night, resulted in the deaths of four people and left the VanHorn family fighting for their lives.
The family of three, traveling in their vehicle, was caught in a fiery explosion caused by a semi-truck, which failed to stop in time for stopped traffic.
The tragic incident left 17 others injured, with Kim and Sam’s son Alex among those who sustained serious injuries.
A Horrific Collision and Its Aftermath
Around 11:40 p.m., a semi-truck loaded with bananas plowed into a traffic jam on the interstate.
The collision caused a massive explosion, resulting in a 15-vehicle pile-up.
As the flames engulfed the scene, Kim VanHorn recalls only fragments of the moment.
“We remember fire and screaming for each other,” she shared, unable to recall the impact.
When she regained consciousness, she found herself disoriented and surrounded by fire, with her husband nowhere in sight and her son crying out for help.
Kim described the haunting moment of finding her husband in a ditch, unconscious and unsure how he got there, and her son covered in blood.
“I remember hugging him and my son… his face was covered in blood,” she said.
Victims and the Ongoing Investigation
The deadly crash claimed four lives.
Three of the victims were in a Chevy Trax and were related, including two women, aged 20 and 43, and a 47-year-old man.
The fourth victim was a 29-year-old man from Carson City driving a Ford F-150 pickup.
Michigan State Police have yet to identify the victims, as per their policy.
The semi-truck driver, who also remains unidentified, was injured in the crash and taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Authorities have yet to determine what charges, if any, he may face as the investigation continues.
The Road to Recovery
In the aftermath, Sam VanHorn was hospitalized with multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck and spinal injuries, and broken ribs.
Kim provided an update on her family’s condition through social media, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community.
“Sam has many things going on, but we are alive,” she shared.
Despite suffering from burns and bruises herself, Kim emphasized that their family is fortunate to have survived the crash.
Their son Alex, though in pain from spinal injuries, is recovering better than his parents.
He is on bed rest, but his condition, like his mother’s, is stable.
Community Support and Recovery Efforts
The VanHorn family has received an outpouring of support from the community, particularly from the band community and residents across Michigan.
Their GoFundMe campaign, which had set a goal of $15,000, has surpassed its target, raising $25,000 to help with medical bills and the long road to recovery.
While the overpass where the crash occurred remains closed for inspection, crews are working to clear the wreckage and debris.
The roadwork that caused the traffic buildup was part of a $9 billion project to improve power lines in the area, undertaken by DTE Energy.
Kim ended her update with heartfelt thanks for the community’s support, saying, “The state of Michigan, I can’t even describe the overwhelming support we have. It’s been amazing.”
Their road to recovery may be long, but the VanHorn family remains hopeful, surrounded by the kindness and support of their community.
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