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| via YouTube |
Posted on 08/09/2013 2:08:07 PM PDT by NYer
A traffic accident and subsequent rescue mission in Missouri is getting international attention this week, not because the emergency crew was successful in saving a woman's life -- but because a mysterious priest allegedly appeared seemingly out of nowhere to calmly offer a prayer.
via YouTube
And then he disappeared.
The New London Fire Department is calling it the "Highway 19 Miracle."
The case of this "mysterious priest" is already going viral, with USA Today referencing the appearance of an "angel" and the Daily Mail referring to the "riddle of the angel priest." "God's Country?" says the New York Daily News.
So what happened exactly?
KHQA, the local station that first reported the incident, says that nineteen-year-old Katie Lentz, of Quincy, was trapped in her crushed car on Highway 19 near Center, which is about two hours north of St. Louis.
Facebook photo
Katie Lentz.
A driver had apparently crossed the center line and struck Lentz head-on.
The online report with the Missouri Highway Patrol says that Aaron Smith, a 26-year-old from Hannibal, was arrested at 9:42 a.m. and faces charges of felony second-degree assault, DWI and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. The report says he was taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Lentz was reportedly trapped in her car for quite a long time as volunteer firefighters struggled to get her out.
via YouTube / KHQA
Rescue mission underway.
After about one hour, Lentz apparently asked that the rescue workers pray out loud with her.
That's when, rescuers say, a priest appeared.
Here's footage from the station:
Raymond Reed, chief of the volunteer New London fire department, told the station, "He came up and approached the patient and did offer a prayer. It was a Catholic priest. He had anointing oil with him and a sense of calmness come over her then...and it did us as well.... I can't be for certain what who said or how it was said or where it come from, but myself and one of the firefighters that was beside me, we very plainly heard that we should remain calm, that our tools would now work and that we would get her out of that vehicle."
Daily RFT left a message with Reed yesterday, and we'll update if we get a chance to speak with him directly.
Facebook photo
Katie Lentz.
Soon after, the Hannibal Fire Department reportedly showed up and successfully rescued the woman. When rescuers went to thank the priest he was gone, they report.
The road had also been closed off during the rescue, officials say.
Here are some posts from the New London Fire Department's Facebook page about the "Highway 19 miracle":
Meanwhile, the woman is apparently recovering from the very serious injuries. From an update her mother posted on Facebbok, which the fire department shared:
Very pleased that Katie's near tragic accident provides proof to all that miracles still happen....
Katie's surgery was successful today after a 6 1/2 hour surgery. Many are asking about her injuries. Here is a non comprehensive list:
Broken left femur
Broken right femur
Broken right tibia
Broken right fibia
Broken left wrist
9 broken ribs (8 on one side)
Lacerated liver
Ruptured spleen
Bruised lung
Numerous smaller lacerations.
Thankfully, her face and teeth escaped injury.
Please continue to pray for her and in Katie's words, Pray Out Loud!!!! Bless you for loving our family and supporting us in prayer.
She’ll be needing, and getting, more prayers for a full recovery.
Thanks for the ping! This story is such a comfort to me.
Where did he go?
Angels are among us.
Broken left femur
Broken right femur
Broken right tibia
Broken right fibia
Broken left wrist
9 broken ribs (8 on one side)
Lacerated liver
Ruptured spleen
Wow. Poor girl! I hope so, too.
bkmk
I am a former ambulance medic and given the extent of that young girl’s injuries it is a miracle she is alive, especially with the extended extrication.
I’m glad the girl survived and I hope she makes a full recovery.
The miracle thing is silly. The priest walked or trotted the quarter-mile in (takes 3-5 minutes), said a prayer, gave encouragement and walked back. The responders were rather busy, it’s no surprise he got out of sight without them seeing him, they were still working on the girl as he left.
It’s more likely that he made it out of the area before they were finished with the girl and started looking around than it is that he is an angel.
It’s more likely that he went into the tall corn by the road to urinate than he’s an angel.
Get a grip.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
**Thankfully, her face and teeth escaped injury.**
Blessings to Katie.
And the “Mystery Priest” didn’t cast a shadow or have a reflection in any mirrors.
But enough about that...Listen to this tale...While driving on a dark and lonely road one night I saw a young girl in my headlights walking down the center of the road...Let me know if you’ve heard this one before....You have?.....
Its a wonderful story and yes miracles still happen.
I would not trade my faith, my God, for your “grip.”
I think the decisive moment was when she asked them to pray with her: that demonstration of faith in a life and death moment allowed the heavens to open up and grace to be poured out on her and the workers. I believe it was her guardian angel sent to uplift them all, strengthen her, and sustain her spirit.
And I don’t think it’s an accident that the angel was dressed as a Catholic. Seems like a pretty clear message to me!
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