PORTAGE, Mich. -- A West Michigan family said they’re in desperate need of some financial help after a terrible car crash in Hastings. It happened Friday on M-43, and now bills are piling up without any promise of reimbursement from insurance.
This is the same crash where police say an unauthorized drone hovered over the area as an Aero Med helicopter approached and tried to land to help victims. Today, one woman from Portage is trying to help her mother, who was badly hurt.
"I was scared. I didn't know if she was alive. If she was dead," Katie Robinson said.
She knows the outcome could have been much worse for her mother Janet. Katie's niece, the driver, failed to yield at an intersection to an oncoming pickup truck. It caused a violent collision.
"She was ejected from the vehicle," Katie said of her mother.
Robinson learned from police that her mother was thrown about 15 feet from the van's middle seat. She said her mom doesn't remember much but doesn't believe she was wearing a seatbelt.
She didn't have any broken bones, but Aero Med flew her to Borgess with a closed head injury and bleeding on the brain.
"At the time was very life-threatening. She was in ICU over the weekend," Robinson said.
She said her mother also suffered a heart injury from the impact.
"Doctors say if her heart continues to be enlarged, may need a heart transplant later on," Robinson said.
So now, Robinson said it's unclear how insurance will handle any of the expenses as her family scrapes by. She said her father is on disability and is trying to spend as much time as possible by her mother's side.
"My boyfriend and I are doing as much as we can. My brother. But it's a struggle. We set up a Gofundme page for mom. We're trying to get a little bit of help that way to help with dad's expenses and mom's expenses that are not being covered right now," Robinson said.
They're looking for help with things like gas money, food and other expenses.
The driver of the pickup and the four other passengers in the van suffered various injuries, like cuts and broken bones. Robinson believes her mother's injuries were the worst. Janet Robinson is out of the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Plainwell.
