Meridian girl continues intensive hospital stay following Teton Pass crash
SALT LAKE CITY (KIFI)—An 11-year-old Meridian girl who was critically injured in a crash on the Teton Pass remains hospitalized in Salt Lake City.
Neeka Korn was riding in an RV on Aug. 17 along Wyoming Highway 22 when it crashed with a car near Wilson around 9 p.m.
Neeka was flown to an Idaho Falls hospital and later flown again to a Salt Lake hospital, her family said.
Her family shared an update with Local News 8 on Wednesday, saying Neeka has undergone major surgery for multiple injuries. According to the family, those injuries include a broken leg, injuries to her spleen, other internal injuries and several additional broken bones.
Her mother, Michelle, has remained at the hospital in Salt Lake City while Neeka receives intensive treatment for her injuries and subsequent complications. Family members said Neeka's recovery process has included both progress and sudden setbacks, requiring the family to take her treatment one day at a time.
To assist with the financial burden, relatives created a GoFundMe for the family. The funds are intended to cover the costs of the two emergency airlifts, surgeries, extended hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, travel and lodging between Idaho and Utah and lost income during her recovery.
Teton Pass driver safety
WILSON, Idaho (KIFI) - The Idaho Transportation Department has teamed up with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Make Teton Pass Safer to put up signs and give warning to travelers going on the pass.
"The group is interested in advanced signage right now," Sky Buffat, the Public Informations Officer for the Idaho Transportation Department, said. "That's their main push. We realize that Idaho is a place where advanced warning, as far as what to expect on the pass would be needed, so we're happy to be a willing and helpful partner."
The signs will have general warnings, offer alternate routes, and give advice to keep you safe on the mountain. It is not just Semi Trucks who need to shift into a lower gear but all vehicles should when going down the steep terrain.
"One thing that the discussion seems to have kind of centered on is right now the signs read 'trucks use lower gear,'" Buffat explained. "And the biggest push immediately is to see signs read all vehicles use lower gear. Even if you drive an automatic, there is a way to lower your gear so your brakes aren't in danger as you're crossing the mountain."
Your car may be capable of shifting to a lower gear. It can appear as S, L, or B on your car's shift. It could even be a button on newer vehicles. But this has the capability to save your car's brakes as well as keep you safe when going down those steep slopes.
"Just knowing to use a lower gear and a lower speed when you're on a mountain pass like that of any kind, really will can save a lot of problematic instances from happening," Buffat said.
You can find information on your vehicle's lower gear shift in your owner's manual or just by looking at your shift and finding the letter that doesn't match the rest.
