Karla Drury recovering from car accident

Southeast Missourian

"A miracle" is how Cape Girardeau businessman Dan Drury describes his wife Karla's survival of a traffic accident last weekend in which she sustained 22 fractured bones and a punctured lung.

According to Cape Girardeau police, Karla Drury, 51, apparently became disabled and lost control of her 1991 Chevrolet Blazer near the family business on Farrar Street around 11:30 a.m. Friday. The vehicle traveled approximately 280 feet south toward Independence Street, where it veered off the road and crashed through a grassy area.

The vehicle then crossed Farrar Street again, turned back off the road and through another field where it crossed a private drive on Mount Auburn Road and struck a tree, police said. Drury was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Firefighters spent 15 minutes extricating Drury from her vehicle. She was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center with serious injuries, and later was flown to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

Besides the 22 fractured bones, Drury suffered numerous cuts and bruises and a small puncture in her right lung. She was expected to have surgery on both wrists Thursday.

"The wrists really concern us because she loves music and playing the piano," Dan Drury said Thursday evening.

He also credits his wife's survival to the quick and caring action on the part of the emergency response team as well as the emergency team at St. Francis Medical Center who immediately started blood transfusions.

Karla Drury has been moved to a private room at Barnes where she is in some discomfort but is recovering. Instead of sending flowers, friends are asked to donate blood at the American Red Cross and to offer prayers.

Karla and Dan Drury have three sons and a grandson.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160