COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Friends, co-workers and strangers are helping raise money for a Smyrna family whose life was turned upside down by a bizarre and tragic wreck nearly three weeks ago.
A teacher and mother of three has been in a coma since the accident on Dec. 1.
"I've relived the accident over and over just in my mind seeing it," said Chris Baldwin.
Download Free WSB-TV Apps
Wake-Up | News | Weather | Traffic
His wife and two sons had just left home. Deanna Baldwin stopped for the traffic light nearby on Windy Hill when a sports car veered off the road, flew through a tiny space in an overpass and landed on a truck and Deanna Baldwin's minivan.
She has been comatose ever since, but earlier this week started breathing on her own.
"It still worries me daily. Really the extent of the brain damage she has; that's what worries me but we're prepared to do whatever we need to do," he said.
Chris Baldwin's son Jonathan had fallen asleep moments before the impact and ended up with a shattered pelvis.
"I really don't remember anything other than being pinned between a roof and a car door," Jonathan said.
Jonathan will spend Christmas in Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. After his wife's second surgery Christmas Eve, Chris Baldwin will be by her side at Kennestone Hospital.
Smyrna police charged the driver of the sports car, David Ballard, with traffic charges but say their investigation continues.
Deanna Baldwin worked as the orchestra teacher at Whitefield Academy. Co-workers and friends have started fundraising efforts to keep the family's mind off finances and on the mother of three's recovery.
"Everyone has their maelstroms. They have to go through from time to time and this is our hailstorm, but we're getting through it. God's getting us through it and we have a thousand people praying for us, so that's always good," said Chris Baldwin.
WSBTV
