By Jonathan Montgomery
Daily Titan Staff Writer

Last week, two San Bernardino women were killed in a head-on collision involving Cal State Fullerton student Jessica Shekell, 21. Shekell is currently being treated at the UCI Medical Center and a brief update on her condition has been issued by John Murray, head of media relations at UCI Medical Center.

As of Friday Oct. 30, Shekell’s condition has progressed from “fair” to “good,” said Murray. Dr. Gracie-Ann Dinkins, trauma surgeon at Long Beach Memorial Center, said “good condition” typically means the patient is responding well to interventions and surgical procedures; “stable” is the key word, which means the patient is responding quite well and surgery may no longer be considered.

At this time, Shekell’s family has not authorized the release of any more information.

Sara Miguel was involved in the accident and admitted to UCI Medical Center for major injuries. She was discharged on Friday and is also in good condition, said Murray.

Liz Raganold, trauma program director at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, said head injuries are the most lethal and devastating injuries among head-on collisions. Second, she said, are abdominal and chest trauma.

Dinkins described other injuries such as to a passenger’s face, adding the possibility of injuries to the neck, torso and pelvis. An impact could also drive the steering wheel into a chest, injuring the heart, lungs and ribs, added Dinkins.

Raganold said the result of deceleration in a vehicle traveling at a certain speed results in a “deceleration injury;” the abrupt stop of the vehicle sends the energy and molecules of a driver forward, then back, Raganold said. Like Jell-O, the bodily contents and brain move forward and bounce back in a similar motion, Raganold said.

“The speed of the vehicles and the position the passenger is in during the impact can greatly affect the outcome,” Dinkins said.

“If your legs are stiff, you have a very likely chance of those same legs being driven backwards,” Dinkins said.

Victims can even be injured by their own seat belts, she continued. When there is an intense back and forth motion, the seat belt can damage the aorta, as known as the “tree trunk of circulation,” Dinkins said.

Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of trauma in the U.S., and very often caused by someone being under the influence. Raganold added.

“(For) half of the motor vehicle accidents in LA county, either the patient or the person that caused the accident has drugs or alcohol on board,” Raganold said.
Raganold said educational programs have been implemented into high schools in California to discourage students from drunk driving.

Exhaustion is another factor to consider because it makes drivers, “less alert, less accurate and quick to respond,” Raganold said.

She added that, overall, trauma centers in close proximity to accidents have greatly affected the outcomes of similar accidents.

“One good thing about the accident is that (those involved) could be admitted to nearby trauma center,” Raganold said.

There are 13 trauma centers in LA County. Raganold said designated trauma centers carry staff with certain expertise and equipment specific for trauma victims.