Father says son surviving crash was ‘miracle’

SOUTH PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WKBN) – A Hickory High School senior should be able to graduate on time with his classmates next week after surviving a horrific crash Wednesday.

Nathan Smith, 18, lost control of his car along Route 18 and crashed into a pole. The impact sheared the car in half. His father, Pastor Mike Smith, said it was a message no parent ever wants to receive.

“That our son was in a car accident and taken to St. Elizabeth’s. We didn’t know anything that had happened,” Smith said.

Nathan was on his way to Greenville to see his girlfriend’s softball game when he drove into that rain storm and found he was hydroplaning out of control. The car slammed into a steel utility pole at the intersection of Thompson Road.

“It literally ripped the car — the whole front of the car. And if you look in the pictures that you see, the part where the seat is was the only part that wasn’t crushed,” Smith said.

Amazingly, Nathan suffered only a broken arm and some bumps and bruises. Smith said help was on the scene quickly.

“The nurse that stopped by, we don’t know who that was, but she stopped, took care of him. We heard that other people stopped, the volunteer fire department,” he said.

Before long, the support came pouring in.

“Just people wondering what was going on and what they can do for our family. It’s just awesome to see the community come together,” Smith said.

Despite how severe the accident looks in the pictures from first responders, Nathan is being released from the hospital just days after the crash and able to graduate next weekend.

“We’re thankful to God that he spared his life. I mean, that’s an absolute miracle. That was a miracle that saved my son’s life,” Smith said.

And through it all, Mike says his family’s faith carried them through.

“He’s taken care of us. He’s been with us, he took care of us that night as well,” Smith said.

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