Doctors finished putting 33-year-old Krystyn Renfro back together Friday, removing a portion of her skull from her abdomen, where doctors had placed it to preserve the bone, and reattaching it to her head.
But despite being whole again, the survivor of the Jan. 31 hit-and-run accident at 28th Street and Lawrence Avenue said something is still missing.
“I would love to see some kind of accountability,” Renfro said from her hospital bed. “I realize that might not be likely, but as far as closure goes, seeing someone punished in some way for taking so much from me, it would feel really good.”
Renfro, a mother of three, has been confined to a hospital bed for the past six weeks, unable to even hold her infant son.
Her pelvis was shattered by the impact of the accident and doctors had to rebuild it. She said it will likely be 10 weeks before therapists even attempt to teach her how to walk again.
“I know that when I first came in, the surgeons didn’t give my parents more than six days, and now here I am,” Renfro said. “They call me a miracle.”
Renfro, who also suffered a brain injury, said she has no recollection of the accident, which happened around 1:15 a.m. that Sunday morning.
Witnesses have said she was hit by the car after bending over to pick up a cell phone she had dropped into the street.
But Renfro remembers being on the sidewalk fiddling with her phone, which had lost its signal. The intersection is less than a quarter of a mile from Renfro’s house and an area where she said she often went for walks.
“I was not in the street or in the yard. I was on the sidewalk,” she said. “And what I’m guessing is that a car turned the corner and jumped the curb, and they just hit me.”
Police are looking for a silver or light-colored 2004 to 2006 Mazda 3 with possible front-end damage in connection with the accident.
Witnesses described seeing a car matching that description fleeing the scene of the accident southbound on Lawrence Avenue.
Renfro said she had not yet talked to detectives. Lawrence Police Sgt. Bill Cory said officers were giving her time to recover.
Renfro said she’s still hopeful the driver will be caught.
“I’m assuming that someone had a moment of panic, but I think that it’s time for them to stand up and be accountable,” she said.
Renfro is expected to be released from the hospital by the end of the weekend. She plans on returning to her parents’ home in Chase with her 4-month-old son for a few weeks. Then she’ll return to Lawrence in time to start her outpatient physical therapy.
Her friends have planned a fundraiser on March 19 at the Jackpot Music Hall in downtown Lawrence to help pay for expenses associated with the accident.
Renfro said she’ll use any money raised to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who hit her.
“I think that someone was irresponsible, and I don’t think that anyone intended to hit me,” she said. “I think it was an accident, but their carelessness almost cost me my life and that, to me, is just terrible.”
Comments
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cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
Accountability - for everyone.
springtime (anonymous) says…
How do you know that she had been drinking, and what business of ours is it where the father is? This article was not about the father of the children, but about the survivor.
cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
"The police report indicates Krystyn Renfro had consumed alcohol prior to the accident." - LJW 2-21-10
smitty (anonymous) says…
JW, please...enough of the slander. Monitor this thread and remove or do not allow such comments as above.
cammieb (anonymous) says…
LJWorld Bloggers in good form, already this morning: so sad & angry. I feel sorry for them. It must be rough to read an article and only be filled with hate.
AND I really hope that notjustyoureverydayaveragetrol isn't one of my neighbors, since I frequently walk on the sidewalks in my neighborhood and I have children at home!
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morganlefay (anonymous) says…
I am sick and tired of people in this town blaming the VICTIM of these hit and runs. Just like the last hit and run where the bicyclist was killed and people are still trying to blame her. What's wrong with you people?! And so what if this victim had consumed alcohol?! She was being responsible by not driving and was only not even a 1/4 mile from her home. The driver who did this to her needs to grow a pair of balls and face the music for their actions. Judging from the last hit and run in this town, I'm sure they'll only get a slap on the wrist anyways. Best of luck to this victim with her recovery and may they find the scum who did this and punish them!
morganlefay (anonymous) says…
And to Granny, maybe there are discrepancies because the victim suffered a severe head injury! Did that thought ever cross your mind?!
caec (anonymous) says…
Did I miss the passage of a new law? Is it illegal for a woman of legal age with children to consume alcohol? So what if she had, she doesn't deserve to be run down. I guess you people who are blaming the victim probably think a rape victim had it coming to her for wearing a skirt? Same idea.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
I don't get all the hate for this young woman. the driver was probably textin' while drinking and driving.
parrothead8 (anonymous) says…
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) says…
Yes, the person who hit her should be held accountable for their actions. But she should be held accountable for her OWN actions.
You don't think a shattered pelvis and a brain injury is enough accountability? Perhaps you'd like to lead the charge into her hospital room to berate her for her "horrible" actions? What else would you like to see happen to a woman who wasn't doing anything illegal?
jcstepmom28 (anonymous) says…
Not sure how many "silver or light-colored 2004 to 2006 Mazda 3" are registered in the county, but I would think the police has contacted them. Of course, if it's parked in your garage, the police knock on your door to look at it, and you tell them no, not sure if that's enough for a warrant.
If it an out of city driver, it might be harder to find.
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) says…
There is no need to hate of either party. Seems like the haters are the ones pointing fingers here.
It IS illegal to be drunk in public. The alcohol report on the victim would clear this up. She also states she was on the sidewalk. Witnesses reported seeing her in the street when hit. While I'm not saying the victim deserved what happened to her. Maybe understanding all the facts that played into this tragedy would go a long way in stopping these kinds of issues. While I commend the victim for no drinking and driving, she would do well to drink at home and stay there. It's hard enough for pedestrians to walk around Lawrence with such a high rate of high school and college aged drivers sober, let alone if been drinking! I hope the hit-n-run driver is caught! Only then will we know whether alcohol played a part in the drivers responsibility for this accident. My opinion is that BOTH parties played a role in this tragedy, especially if determined that the victim was legally drunk and in the street when hit!
Neither drunk drivers nor drunk pedestrians will get my sympathy! If the report of victims blood-alchol comes out as not legally drunk, I most certainly would apologize to the victim. But until this is fact or not....I hold my apologies. In any case, I hope the victim recovers fully!
riverdrifter (anonymous) says…
Number_1_grandma,
With friends like you, who needs an enema?
jreiling (anonymous) says…
To the person(s) who did this....hell is not something you will enter after you die, hell is what you will live with until you come forward and admit your mistake. This will haunt you forever. Your victim has and will continue living with disabilities that she did not ask for regardless of what she was doing that evening. Come forward and release yourself from the hell you will suffer for the rest of your life. If you are a person with a wife, husband or children, keep in mind how you would feel lying in a hospital, having the doctors tell your parents that you would not be alive much longer, never getting to enjoy your family, friends or life that you once knew ever again. Think about how you would feel being taken care of by your parents, spouse or friends for the rest of your life. I implore you to come forward and discover the peace that it will bring to you and the victims family, especially her four month old child. Call a trusted family member, friend or loved one to come with you when you turn yourself in to support you through the process. I assure you this will be better than what you will live with if you don't!
Xraygal (anonymous) says…
Wow don't drive drunk, don't walk drunk. That whole concept is SO unbalanced.
driving 101......Drive defensively.......avoid hitting balls that roll in the street, animals that run into the street, humans that are in the street for ANY reason. Kinda seems like a "no-brainer" to me. Maybe #1 is practicing her "drink at home" mantra earlier in the day than most. Good thoughts to "victim" and her family.
lindseydoyle (anonymous) says…
Number_1_Grandma, I think we all know what the "Number 1" stands for. The next time I take a "number 1" I'll think of you.
MurphyCat (anonymous) says…
This might be something to think about...maybe LPD already does this:
http://www.kptv.com/automotive/228242...
jackbinkelman (anonymous) says…
Pedestrians [drunk or not] have the right of way. Period.
LoneHawk1 (anonymous) says…
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) says…
Neither drunk drivers nor drunk pedestrians will get my sympathy! If the report of victims blood-alcohol comes out as not legally drunk, I most certainly would apologize to the victim. But until this is fact or not....I hold my apologies. In any case, I hope the victim recovers fully!
********************************************************
Perhaps you should consider withholding your assumptions until you have all of the facts.
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
Best wishes to you Ms. Renfro. You did nothing wrong! It is not illegal to have a few drinks and stand on a public sidewalk. Do not pay any attention to people who try and twist things around and place any blame on to you. You are blameless. I wish you the best in your recovery, and I will be looking for the car that hit you, as every good citizen should be doing. Thank you, Lynn
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MurphyCat (anonymous) says…
Right on, LoneHawk!!
cschott (anonymous) says…
Thank you, Lynn731! You said it well.
We seem to have a lot of very self-righteous people who read the LJW.
Cindy
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
What's the matter grandma, havin' a hard time pullin' your foot out of your mouth.
Parrysmom (anonymous) says…
Yankeevet, there are a couple of fundraisers that are taking place for her medical bills.
http://www.lawrence.com/events/2010/m...
http://www.lawrence.com/events/2010/m...
ndnkorn (anonymous) says…
Best Wishes, Krystyn from Green Bay......I'm pullin for you. Prayers are up for you and your family.