Teen survivor of S.R. 25 crash speaks out

LOGANSPORT, ind. (WLFI) - "At first, they thought I broke my back," said sixteen-year-old Travis Palmer.

That's what Palmer was told in the ambulance after he rolled his car down a 35-foot ravine. And then his life as a cross country and baseball standout flashed before him.

The accident happened on State Road 25 just north of Delphi. He said he wasn't texting, he wasn't distracted. He was hit with bad luck at the wrong time.

"My car shut off. I don't know how. My ignition's loose so I must of hit it or something and I've never driven without power steering so I couldn't keep it straight around the corner," said Palmer.

Palmer said during the accident, he prayed he would survive. He knew he did when he heard a construction worker's voice ask if he was okay.

An ambulance arrived and he was transported to IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette.  From there, he was air lifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

He said family and friends were nothing but supportive, especially his mom who was by his side immediately.

"When she was driving to Lafayette, my car was still in the ditch. She said once she saw my car, she started bawling," said Palmer.

Palmer's back wasn't broken. However, his ribs and spleen did take a beating. He said he won't be able to do any strenuous physical activity for six to eight weeks, which took away his dreams of playing in this year's Colt World Series. He said he was still in the dugout this weekend to root on his team, Hoosier North.

"Before I got injured, I was the main loud guy to get everyone pumped. That's what I tried to do throughout the games," said Palmer.

Palmer knows how dangerous State Road 25 is. As a survivor of a crash, his advice to other drivers -- always stay alert.