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Current Video:Wilhite coping with crash|
Jon Wilhite was the lone survivor in the crash that killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Hear Whilite describe what happened and what he does to cope.
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
It was late at night. Which is a time we get severe accidents. Going out -- to that intersection we can see lots of police cars arriving. Lots of debris in the roadway as people that. 22 year old -- in the heart had pitched that game of his young life just hours before the crash. To celebrate the achievement the foursome headed off to a dance club seven miles away. They were less than ten seconds from their destination. What -- once convicted drunk driver tragically struck again. -- cars coming south Bob lemon and the man that that hit him into the intersection from the west. Good to hit the man ended up here. John's -- ended up here with the driver visiting the Anderson drivers but Byrd's interception the situation worked out. Really well for her job because. He was extricate that put us in Colorado immediately. From that point he was pulled straight out of the vehicle out of the back window of the vehicle with the blown out so they pulled him straight out of the vehicle onto a backboard. Which allowed just -- to stay in perfect alignment. It's a miracle and his American -- was in his time -- this time. -- -- back for the other three kids because. You know I have to limit myself so. No -- outlive a child soul but. You know who was in his time. And paramedics and a great job on the field and really top notch can't say enough about what paid. They then bring him here as we call them coach from which is highest level. She needs someone who's in or blacks and him and on the brink of living -- -- John was fitted with a halo to keep his head stable. But remained in critical condition. General surgery trauma team emerge from doctors. -- initial evaluation. See what's going on. And for John unitas. That you literally. Broken his neck. And severed the connection between his goal in the top -- and we'll call -- an internal decapitation or some other fancy medical -- sport but. Eternal decapitation sums it up pretty well most people on this injury. -- -- Probably more than any 5% killed almost immediately and other -- 5% actually like some sort of severe neurological -- -- wheelchair bound on the panel later. Six years earlier John had walked on to one of college baseball's power house programs cal state Fullerton in his five years with the Titans. John started just a handful of games. But his value was founded areas stats and measure. There is no way to judge a player's heart or character or they get back they have on. Teammates -- our best bat off -- -- with -- -- if there's ever big situation he was the guy really want to come to play. And I think that has -- make us and the way he treated our team and the way he was on the on the field you know Helton threw those in need to -- -- -- -- he knew he was out here just have fun and help this team win. He came to practice every day with a smile let's face it didn't matter that he knew his name might not be in the lineup that day. She came to help prepare his teammates and make them better on a daily basis. And that's the thing that that. That's when I was coaching job that I remember -- he was just a guy that. Everybody attracted to he was like the velcro -- the team because everyone wanted to be around Jon -- for what he did for this team. They called players who arrive under pressure gamers. And that's how -- coaches viewed him in crucial late game situations John was called upon a time and again to pinch hit. Including twice in the 2007. College World Series where he went one for two. Now he faced the biggest at bat of his life. When you look at -- tragedy like that how many things had to go wrong for them to be certain that split second I mean he was second. Either way in and -- through that intersection. So. That many things had to go right. For John to make. For the first. About seven days eight days we didn't know where -- -- wasn't that we are told. By one of the surgeons that it wasn't looking too good as far as survival we didn't know I mean it was very very serious. And as far as long to -- -- was even. More serious alive that was extremely hard to deal. I remember it just think they when when we are told is alive he's an intensive care and we are told his internally -- Yeah I didn't now and it's been. It's -- a couple months now and it still shocking turn. It was a week after the crash before the swelling in John's head. A loud for doctor -- he got to perform the surgery. To reattached John's head to his spine. Miraculously. John survived. All the drama. Each day he showed more and more improvement. On the same day Courtney Stewart was laid to rest. John's tubes helping him to breathe were removed. Allowing him to talk. To ask questions. Top questions. We thome was going to car accidents and -- wanted to know. How the other people are on the car and Tony and I looked across cities and there. And then he says they've died didn't -- and we idea. -- Now it's tough you know I mean it was it was real tough. And we're still processing we're still we're still trying to let a little bit of that and. You get cards and I would start reading them cards and he would take put you know put it down on the he's making it to real you know he had just taken a little at a time. It was definitely weird because there was evidence being. His -- with a sore neck -- some questions. And whereas lessons. Have you I don't mean. He's here hours lawyer in me. I mean. -- -- -- -- As -- slowly got -- confirmation. Analysts. I mean. On -- election. To stay positive and do very very.