Deadly Softball Team Crash Leaves Survivors With Mixed Emotions
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - A deadly bus crash involving members of a Texas college softball team has left survivors with mixed emotions.
Rachel Hitt's family says they are heartbroken over the loss of life and thankful for the actions of first-responders. At the same time, former high school teammates say Rachel showed heroism the night of the accident.
Scurry-Rosser High School was where Rachel Hitt helped pitch her team to division championships, during all four years she attended. But teammates from that time say her greatest play may have been her heroism at the bus crash.
Not even a hospital could keep Brook Archer from her former teammate over the weekend. "So, whenever I first walked in she was really shocked to see me, I guess," Archer said, adding, "and I went over there and hugged her and most of all I was happy that she was just alive."
Archer and Derian Perkins were sophomores on the North Central Texas College Lady Panthers softball team when Rachel graduated.
"We always wanted to be like Rachel," Perkins confided, "because she was the best and she was so confident in herself. We all looked up to Rachael big time."
But even Rachel had trouble coming to terms with the crash, as Archer remembered. "First answer was, 'I can't believe this is happening. Is this a dream?'"
According to separate accounts, Rachel was asleep on the floor when the bus overturned. But in the dark she helped teammates evacuate the battered vehicle.
"So Rachel took one girl and carried her back up the hill because she couldn't walk, both of her ankles were broken. And then she went back and got another girl and carried her back up the hill," Archer related. "There were cactuses everywhere. And she was barefoot. So I was amazed her getting every single girl up to the hill."
Rachel Hitt also suffered a gash in her leg, according to her grandfather. She also has ruptured spleen that doctors' hope won't have to be removed.
"So, it's healing itself," Hitt said of his granddaughter's spleen. "Her blood count is up. And If I know her she's more worried about the other girls than she is herself."
Rachel's former roommate, Brooke Deckard, died in the crash. The Hitt's share Rachel's sense of loss. The two had just been at the Hitt home the weekend before last.
James Hitt had this thought about Rachel's future. "Just come home and get well. So she can finish her education and play ball if she can."
Monday afternoon Rachel Hitt's family published a formal note through the Norman Regional Health System:
"To the families of those who lost their loved ones, the NCTC players and coaching staff, words cannot express the heartache we feel for you. Our hearts are overwhelmed with grief and not being able to be with you during this time is difficult. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
We want to say "Thank You" to the first responders. Our family will be forever grateful for your actions and service. We would like to express our gratitude for the ICU staff at Norman Regional Hospital. Their level of compassion and professionalism is unsurpassed.
To our family and friends, your depth of love and support sustains us as we care for our daughter and begin the healing process." -- Rodney and Lesa Hitt, the parents of Rachel Hitt
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