Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
West Valley City — After a severe accident killed her two best friends and sent her through extensive physical therapy, 17-year-old Cassidy Porter has a new perspective on life.
Porter's life hasn't been the same since May 9, when she and three friends left Hunter High School for lunch.
"We take for granted a lot, like being able to walk and do things on our own," she said. "We think we're invincible. Nothing's going to happen to us."
She doesn't remember the moment of impact, when the Honda Civic she was riding in collided with a Toyota Corolla at the intersection of 4100 South and 5600 West in West Valley.
The driver, Jacob Armijo, and Avery Bock, both 16, were killed.
Another passenger, 16-year-old Leticia Cordero and the driver of the Corolla were seriously hurt and released shortly after the crash.
Cassidy was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.
"I have 60 scars. This is just from the glass and I still have glass in my arm," Cassidy said, holding up her right arm.
Cassidy's road to recovery has been long and ongoing after an aortic tear required her to be medically sedated. She suffered other extensive injuries, including a broken jaw, a broken femur, collapsed lung and fractured pelvis.
The injuries were so severe, Bessie Porter didn't know if her daughter was going to make it.
"It's just been a blessing, a blessing. I mean, I wake up and I just go in the next room and I check on her and I know that's she's there," Bessie said.
Cassidy spent six weeks in the hospital and was released on June 20. She was in a wheelchair and had to learn how to walk again.
"I'm not running yet or jumping. But I'll get there," she said.
Cassidy needs constant care. She's working with a speech therapist to help with her cognitive skills, and she plans to go back to school in August. But her senior year won't be the same without Jacob and Avery.
She grew up with Jacob. He was her best friend.
"He was somebody I could confide in," she said. "He was just a great kid. I mean, there's not a minute of the day that I don't think of him."
Bessie Porter says, according to some witnesses, Jacob swerved to miss an SUV, possibly a Jeep, that turned in front of him.
West Valley City Police say they have looked into reports about that SUV but found that the cause of the crash was speed and failure to maintain control.
They are still awaiting the final report from the Medical Examiner's Office.
An account has been set up for donations in Cassidy's name through America First Credit Union.
