‘She’s doing amazing’: Father says he and little girl are closer than ever following crash that killed her mom
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DRIGGS – Months after a car crash in Nevada that resulted in multiple deaths, a local father and daughter are grateful they still have each other.
In March, 6-year-old Emerson Myers of Driggs walked away with a broken wrist and some bumps and scrapes following a crash on U.S. Highway 95 near Las Vegas. Emerson was traveling with her mom, Lauren Starcevich, of Victor, and her fiancee, Michael Durmeier, and his son Jackson and daughter Georgia, also of Victor. Lauren was killed in the crash, along with Michael and Georgia. Jackson was hospitalized in critical condition at the time, but has reportedly made a full recovery.
An investigation from the Nevada Highway Patrol revealed an Arizona man driving northbound in a 1998 Ford F-150 hit the southbound vehicle occupied by Emerson and her mom, a 2011 Toyota Highlander. The Ford hit the Toyota on its front left side. The Highlander rolled multiple times, and Lauren and two of the kids were thrown from the vehicle.
Emerson’s dad, Josh Myers, spoke with us days after the crash and with tears in his eyes told us his daughter was the only one in the vehicle that had a seatbelt on. She woke up in the car upside down, unbuckled herself and crawled out of the windshield.
A woman saw her walking around and stayed with her until authorities arrived.
Since then, Myers tells EastIdahoNews.com he thanks God every day that someone was there to take care of his daughter. Though losing her mom and surviving the crash was a traumatizing experience, he says the outcome for Emerson could have been so much worse.
“What she went through, what she saw — she’s just not talking about it,” Myers says. “I’m not sure if she just doesn’t remember because she blocked it out, or what’s happening. It could all come out in a few years, but right now I have no idea.”
After bringing his daughter home from the hospital, Myers says things quickly transitioned back to normal and he was worried because he wasn’t sure what the grieving process would be like.
“It was tough on her for the first two weeks,” says Myers. “Just getting used to being here and having her home. It was a complete change. I thought it was going to be extremely hard but it was actually very easy.”
Multiple memorial services for Lauren were held in April and June to allow all members of the family, who are scattered throughout the country, to attend. Myers says he and Emerson attended one funeral and left early on the second one because it was too much for her.
“She said she was ready to go so we left. I left it up to her,” he says. “We didn’t attend the others because she had had enough. It was a lot for her to take in with all the people.”
Emerson has been working with a therapist for several months and Myers says his daughter’s silence about the crash is how she’s coping with it for now. He’s supportive of Emerson’s efforts to deal with it in her own way and he’s prepared to talk about it with her when she’s ready.
In the meantime, Myers says Emerson is happy and seems like a new person.
“I can’t believe how well she’s handling everything and adjusting to our new life. She’s doing amazing,” Myers says.
As for Myers, he says he’s had to make some adjustments with his work schedule to be there for his daughter. It’s been challenging, but he says he couldn’t be happier with how supportive everyone has been.
“The (response from the community) was overwhelming at first. There was such an outpouring of love and help and I feel like it died down pretty quick. There were lots of people around helping out and then it was just like, Ok, we’re on our own. We can do this,” says Myers.
A GoFundme created on Emerson’s behalf raised more than $9,000, which Myers put in a savings account for her to use when she’s older.
Nearly five months later, Myers’ perspective is much more hopeful and optimistic. He works as a freelance photographer and so he and Emerson have been able to take several trips together this summer. Their relationship is stronger than it’s ever been, he says, and they have a close bond.
“One of the things (I was worried about following the crash) was that it broke her as a little girl and that I wouldn’t see her smile like I do now. To see her laughing and running and playing — she’s the same little girl she was … and it makes a big difference to know that everything is going well,” Myers says.
They recently got a puppy, which Myers says has been a good thing for Emerson.
Emerson is preparing to go back to school on Aug. 31 and Myers says she’s excited to go back. He’s looking forward to the journey that’s ahead.
“I’m excited for it. Every day is a new day and I just take it with every step and keep going. You can’t put your head down, you just push forward and keep going.”
