SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Nineteen-year-old Makayla Balderrama expresses gratitude for being alive while recovering at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla.
“This pain is going to be there, I’m just trying to push through, trying to keep going,” Makayla said during a FaceTime interview from her hospital bed.
Makayla’s boyfriend, 20-year-old Juan Baro, was driving them to the airport on December 1st at around 4:30 a.m. They were on the Interstate 5 Southbound close to Cannon Road when a truck going the wrong way crashed head-on into their car, according to California Highway Patrol.
“After the collision I was able to get myself out,” Baro said. He recounted attempting to pull Makayla out through the window on the passenger side, but her legs were stuck, and his arm was broken.
“My hand was pretty much dangling at that point,” Baro said.
That’s when the car started to catch fire.
“I just felt helpless," Baro said. "I couldn’t do anything. I was trying to pull my girlfriend out and my hand wasn’t working.”
CHP then arrived and used the jaws of life to get Makayla out. The wrong-way driver was arrested under suspicion of DUI, according to CHP.
“Your actions have consequences, even if they’re not for you all the time," Makayla said. "You’re going to affect someone else with what you do.”
Makayla sustained two broken femurs, four broken ribs, and a broken right arm and elbow. She aims for a full recovery within six to 12 months.
Juan lives in Camp Pendleton while Makayla lives in Houston. She’s hoping to get a life flight back home to be closer to her family.
Their insurance does not cover most of the medical bills or the flight. If you’d like to donate, here's the link to their GoFundMe.
