Michele Bailey’s Quick Thinking Saves Lives After Car Crash

It’s a quiet Sunday morning, but for Michele Bailey, it’s a day filled with gratitude, reflection, and the feeling of having been given a second chance. At 56, Michele has learned to appreciate every moment of life more deeply after a car crash nearly cost her everything just a few days ago. What could have been a devastating tragedy turned into a miracle, thanks to Michele’s quick thinking and God’s watchful presence.

On Friday morning, Michele was driving along Alabama State Highway 77 toward Attalla with her 3-year-old foster granddaughter secured in her car seat in the back right of the 2023 Lexus RX 350. It was a car she had trusted her husband, Jeff, to special order—a symbol of their hard work and a new chapter in their family’s life. In their 24 years of marriage, it was the first car Michele had allowed Jeff to choose, a decision they were both excited about.

Little did they know, this would be the car involved in an accident that would change their lives forever. The crash came unexpectedly when a vehicle, approaching a stop sign, ran it without slowing down. Michele noticed the car speeding and heading straight for her. “I saw the car driving very fast and running through the stop sign,” Michele recalled. With traffic on both sides of her and no clear path to avoid the collision, her options were limited.

In that split second, Michele made a choice that would prove to be lifesaving. Unable to speed up because of the traffic ahead, Michele decided to slow down and swerve her car in a way that would absorb the impact on the right front side—away from the car seat where her granddaughter was sitting.

The collision was immediate and violent. Michele’s car flipped three times upon impact before coming to rest on its side. Incredibly, the 3-year-old was left hanging in the car seat above, while Michele’s side of the vehicle was crushed against the ground. “A group of people rushed to the scene and actually pushed the car upright,” Jeff shared. “The first responders and paramedics were amazing,” Michele said, full of gratitude for the swift action of those who helped.

Michele, though battered and broken, survived the ordeal. She was flown to UAB Hospital, where doctors confirmed she had sustained a broken right arm, a broken sternum, a broken right ankle, three broken ribs, and several bruises. Despite the severity of her injuries, Michele remained thankful. “I’m just thankful for what could have been a much worse outcome,” she said. “It was a scary moment, but I did what I could in that split second, and I knew God was there to watch over us.”

Her granddaughter, who had been seated in the back, only suffered a broken leg. The driver of the other vehicle was also hospitalized, and Michele, Jeff, and their family have been praying for the other driver’s recovery as well. “We are praying the driver of the other car is OK,” Michele added, demonstrating the deep compassion and selflessness that has always defined her.

As Michele faces months of recovery, including rehab and more surgeries, her perspective on life has shifted profoundly. “I still have no sensation in the bottom of my left foot,” she said. “But my health is improving, and I’m learning more about how to use my myoelectric hand.” Despite the challenges ahead, Michele’s gratitude for life shines through. She has a new appreciation for the time she gets to spend with her family, including her children and grandchildren, and is finding strength in her faith.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this journey has been Michele’s ability to remain positive and grounded. She’s returned to work at Starbucks, continuing to show up with determination and a sense of purpose. Through it all, Michele has remained a pillar of strength for her family, demonstrating the power of resilience in the face of hardship.