January 15, 2015: Crash shatters lives in an instant - Brainerd Daily Dispatch
When she got in her car 15 minutes later, she heard an update on the radio about a serious car crash. The crash closed County Highway 3 near Legionville Road north of Brainerd. It was the same highway Vanek's 24-year-old daughter, Macy Kujava, and her 4-year-old granddaughter Sophia planned to travel. Next came a series of phone calls and texts to Macy Kujava's phone and then calls to her workplace, the daycare provider, and - finally - the hospital. Macy Kujava was in critical condition and was being airlifted from the crash site. The Minnesota State Patrol crash report notes roads were slick with "snow covering the shoulders and centerline, however the yellow painted, dashed centerline was still visible. " Also visible that day were multiple gouge marks on the pavement indicating the point of impact in the southbound lane - the lane Macy Kujava was driving on her way to start her day. The man who hit her, Vaughn C. Gentry, 39, was behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram pickup heading north on the highway. The state patrol stated Gentry lost control and slid sideways to the left, striking Macy Kujava's Honda Civic head-on. Firefighters were needed to extricate Macy Kujava from her car. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd and later flown to North Memorial. Source: www.brainerddispatch.com
