A couple says they can’t believe they’re alive after crashing their semi into another truck on an icy Mayes County highway about two weeks ago.
They said the road to recovery won't be easy.
Kylee Dutch and Josh Fisher were in their truck with their five-year-old daughter and their dog. Dutch also recently found out she's pregnant.
They said when their truck started sliding into oncoming traffic, they thought their lives were about to end.
The trip was supposed to be an escape for Dutch, fiancée Fisher, five-year-old Sam and their husky Cooper, an escape from the bitter Kansas cold weather.
They had recently started a trucking business together and were heading to Galveston for a Valentine's Day trip in their semi, before traveling somewhere warmer.
"The storm we were going away from is the one that came down a couple days later," Fisher said.
Fisher said they were told to take Highway 69 near Chouteau due to traffic on Feb. 10, but he said that highway was covered in ice.
"We were sliding completely sideways, the truck slowly drifts over across the median, and that's when the other truck came," Fisher said. "It was just slow-mo."
Another semi crashed into the passenger side where Dutch was sitting.
"I saw the truck coming toward me, and next thing I know, I heard Josh yelling at me, Sam screaming, Cooper barking," Kyle said.
Dutch was pinned inside. Fisher was able to get their daughter Sam and dog Cooper out, but Cooper ran off.
"I did not expect to be alive," Dutch said, "and I didn’t expect my babies to be alive.”
Dutch spent several days in a Tulsa hospital with broken bones, and right now, she can't use half of her body. Fisher suffered bruises and cuts, and Sam only had scratches.
After eight days in the cold, someone on Facebook found their husky Cooper, and the family was finally reunited.
"I thought he had died," Dutch said. "It was a big wreck and I'm so injured there's no way he didn't get run over. I was just so excited."
The driver of the other truck refused medical treatment and no tickets were issued.
Dutch said her unborn baby is expected to be okay, but she has months of physical therapy ahead. The family also lost many belongings in the truck and have many medical expenses to pay.
To help, you can find the GoFundMe here, or donate to the address below.
The Kylee Dutch family fund
c/o The Topeka Church of the Brethren
P.O. Box 8598
Topeka, KS 66608