Dallas TikTok star Camryn Herriage, 23, is wheeled out of the ICU two months after hit-and-run crash with ‘extremely drunk driver’ that killed best friend – as her mom reveals she’s was given a 2% chance of surviving heart and brain surgery
The 23-year-old Dallas TikToker, who was the victim of a collision in February that killed her best friend, miraculously came off life support for the first time since the wreck.
Camryn Herriage was seriously injured in a crash that injured five people and killed her roommate and friend, Sarah House.
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light when a Ford pickup driven by an extremely drunk woman crashed into them, causing a chain reaction.
Until last week, Herriage had been on a ventilator for almost two months.
Herriage’s mother, Shirley Campanello, said she has consistently prepared for the worst, but her daughter has overcome the adversity time and time again.
The 23-year-old Dallas TikToker, who was the victim of a collision in February that killed her best friend, miraculously came off life support for the first time since the wreck
Camryn Herriage, 23, was riding in a car with her roommate and three other friends on February 11 when their vehicle was struck by a Ford pickup
She feared the worst as she watched her daughter undergo a six-hour operation that ultimately lasted just 90 minutes.
‘I knew she was gone. I just knew because he (the doctor) was fasting… but it was good news, not bad,” she recalled while speaking to Fox 4 News.
Since the tragic crash, Herriage has undergone brain surgery, heart surgery and several surgeries in between.
The outlet reported that doctors at Methodist Dallas Medical Center did not expect Herriage to do as well as she did during her harrowing post-crash experience.
“Ninety-eight percent of people wouldn’t have made it, but she did,” her mother said.
As Herriage continues her recovery, she still has to be informed that her friend did not make it.
Friends come over and her mother says she wonders why they are coming without Sarah.
She said she “sees the doubt in her eyes.” But the family feels Sarah is pushing her through the intense recovery.
Herriage currently still has a tube in her throat to help her breathe. Doctors also say they are not yet fully aware of the extent of the young woman’s brain damage.
She may have to relearn even simple movements. But her family remains hopeful that Camryn will one day come home.
“Several people have told us this is the best we could do. They were quite convinced that she would be dependent on a ventilator. It was hope. That was all we had,” her mother said.
Herriage’s best friend and Texas Tech University roommate, Sarah House, (pictured) tragically died in the collision
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light on Beckley Avenue, in Dallas, when a Ford pickup truck crashed into them, causing a chain reaction car crash that injured five and killed one.
Herriage, pictured here being wheeled through the hospital, has undergone several intensive surgeries since the crash
On Sunday, her uncle Tim Herriage said on Facebook that Camryn was breathing on her own
Camryn is expected to spend at least two more months in the hospital before being transferred to a rehabilitation center.
The suspect in the crash, 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero, remains incarcerated in the Dallas County Jail.
After the deadly wreck, witnesses say they saw Guerrero running from the scene. She now faces a handful of charges, including manslaughter.
She was arrested 11 days after the collision, after detectives found her wallet in the car.
The crash occurred just two blocks from the apartment Herriage shared with House, in a 56-mph zone.
Herriage’s uncle confirmed earlier last week that his niece was showing positive signs of development.
“Camryn has been breathing on her own for over 24 hours!” he wrote on Facebook.
He added: ‘A speech therapist will be visiting soon to assess her ability to use voice control.
‘This step could possibly lead to her trying to talk, and if successful, they can close the tracheostomy.
“Additionally, there are hopeful prospects for Camryn to move into a regular room within the next week or so.
“All of these developments are positive signs of Camryn’s progress. Thank you for your continued support as we embrace this good news.”
The woman who reportedly fled after the crash was identified by police as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero
Prior to the devastating crash, Herriage operated as a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas
Doctors are now working to determine the extent of her brain damage
The crash occurred just two blocks from the apartment Herriage shared with House, in a 56-mph zone
House is being remembered in a GoFundMe, which has raised more than $36,000 to date, commemorating her “bright mind and infectious laugh.”
“Sara was known for her compassionate nature and her relentless desire to make everyone around her happy,” her loved ones said last month.
“Her kindness and caring attitude touched the lives of many and left a lasting impression on all who knew her.”