[Faline]

Denise Wagoner survived a single-vehicle drunk-driving crash in Wisconsin on February 19, 1995, after missing a 90-degree turn in an S-curve and striking a culvert. Her 1989 Ford Escort flipped end over end three times and rolled twice. Wagoner was ejected about 70 feet and landed on her head. Police said her blood alcohol level was .19.

The crash broke nearly every bone in her face, fractured her skull and spine, crushed two neck vertebrae and caused numerous other skeletal injuries. She suffered brain swelling and permanently lost her sight. Doctors initially did not expect her to survive another 24 hours, and she remained in a medically induced coma for five and a half weeks. Surgeons later placed seven plates and 22 screws in her head and face during an operation lasting about 18 hours. She underwent 15 surgeries in total, including seven on her face, and was left with disfigurement and permanent brain damage.

Wagoner later spoke to students, driver-education classes, convicted drunk drivers and other groups about the consequences of impaired driving. Her experience was also presented in the prevention video "Just Call Me Crash - The Denise Wagoner Story," filmed in October 1998 and distributed by Drunk Busters of America.

[Azimuth]

I wonder. First pic says 'before the accident'.

[Gollum09]

think iv'e seen this before, wasn't she in a car crash ?? drink driving ???

[Faline]

yeah i think thats right

[MrsH]

I think I've seen this too. So sad... makes me appreciative.

[nelmser]

If she was the drink driver - then I'm not sorry. She could have easily done this to someone else.

However if someone else caused this, then I feel bad

[sepsis_rotten_out]

so pretty.. damn

[missmorbidity]

I'd rather be dead.

[osakedake]

Yeah, I saw this in one of those "don't drink and drive" scare shows at school or something. She was the drunk driver and had a single car accident. She went to tons of schools to try to keep kids from drunk driving after she healed. I saw the story on a video, not her in person. The doctors in the video likened her face to throwing an apple at a brick wall, the bones, etc were just completely crushed. I think this is that woman anyway, looks like her, but it was a long time ago I saw it.

[jeakiel]

such a shame. she had a pretty face