A Scunthorpe couple who were seriously injured in a horrific car crash on Mother’s Day say they have been left traumatised, triggered by loud noises and frightened to travel in a car again after what happened to them.
Chloe Elwick, 26, and Levi Sumner, 23, were travelling back to their home in their friend Vicky Grzenkowski’s car after helping to decorate her childrens’ room at her home in Kirton Lindsey, when they collided with another vehicle, at around 8.10pm on Sunday, March 10.
The force of the collision was so strong that Chloe remembers the car “flipping ten feet up into the air” and crashing back down. She said she managed to unbuckle her seatbelt and open the passenger door, causing her to fall out of the car.
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Bravely sharing her story with Scunthorpe Live, she said: “My leg was basically hanging off and I started crawling away from the car, panicking. I didn’t feel a thing pain-wise because of the adrenaline and shock. I felt my leg, which was all wet and mushy and disgusting.
“When I was crawling up the hill I started blacking out and started to see a little white light. I thought I was going to die and not see any of my loved ones again, so I started praying and screaming that I didn’t want to die, and screaming for Vicky.
“Then I heard my partner mumbling and he had got out the car and I was so glad he got out. We thought Vicky was dead because she was unresponsive and not moving, but about ten minutes later she started groaning and mumbling. I had to sit at the scene for two hours watching the emergency services cut Vicky out of the car.”
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As a result of the incident, Chloe suffered multiple injuries, including a deep laceration to her leg that left it “hanging off”, and required surgery to stitch her muscles back together. She said she was told by doctors that they would have been forced to amputate had the cut been “1cm deeper”.
She now needs extensive physiotherapy and estimates that it will be around a year until she can walk unaided. Her partner, Levi, suffered a broken wrist, whiplash and bruising, as well as severe trauma.
Chloe continued: “It has affected Levi quite a bit, especially since he’s been home. Before, he wasn’t a paranoid person, but because of the trauma of what happened, noises are triggering us. He’ll be sat at home and he’s constantly locking the doors and windows, he’s constantly living on edge thinking something is going to happen to us. Everything is haunting us at the minute.
“I’ve not processed it properly yet, and I’m scared to get back in a car again and terrified of driving on country roads. I’ve been having a lot of bad dreams.”
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Because Chloe is unable to work and her partner is taking time off to recover from his own injuries and become her full-time carer at their Scunthorpe home, as well as the costs of a wheelchair, the couple have launched a Gofundme page to help with day-to-day costs.
The description reads: “My name is Levi, and I’m reaching out for your support during an incredibly challenging time for myself and my girlfriend, Chloe. On Mother’s Day, we were involved in a traumatic car accident that has left both of us physically and emotionally shaken.
“Since the accident, I’ve been grappling with mental health challenges that I never anticipated. As someone who has never been significantly affected by mental health issues before, the aftermath of the crash has been overwhelming. I’ve experienced breakdowns, constant anxiety, and haunting visions of the accident replaying in my mind. It’s a daily struggle just to feel safe and secure.
“Chloe has been in the hospital for the past week, and although she’s due to be discharged soon, her recovery journey is far from over. We’re facing the daunting task of adjusting to life post-accident, including finding resources like a wheelchair to ensure Chloe can move around comfortably during her recovery period.
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“Financially, we’re in a precarious situation. With me having to take unpaid leave from work to support Chloe and manage my own recovery, we’re worried about how we’ll cover our bills, groceries, and other essentials. The rising cost of living only adds to the pressure, making it even more difficult to make ends meet.
“We’re reaching out to our community for help during this challenging time. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in supporting our recovery and easing the financial burden we’re facing. Your generosity will enable us to focus on healing and rebuilding our lives after this traumatic event.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering supporting us. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us during this difficult journey.”
As previously reported by Scunthorpe Live, young mum Vicky, who was driving the car that Chloe and Levi were in, also suffered extensive injuries as a result of the collision. These include eight broken ribs, three breaks to her pelvis, a broken wrist, facial lacerations and a damaged eye, among others.
A Gofundme has also been launched to help Vicky’s partner, Dom, who is having to take unpaid time off work to care for the couple’s two children. You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
