A Valley teen is on the mend after a harrowing accident that claimed the life of his friend and resulted in the amputation of part of his leg. Jett Weinstein, 17, is found to be recovering "at rapid rates," with medical professionals dubbing his progress a "miracle," after surviving a crash with a guardrail that had only given him a 5% chance to live, reports 12 News.
The crash, which took place on Feb. 4 when Weinstein and 16-year-old Jaxson Elliot were returning from snowboarding, resulted in Weinstein's car striking an ET-Plus guardrail on I-17 near Cordes Junction. The guardrail, installed in 2004, has been surrounded by controversy and calls for its removal due to safety concerns. An advocate, Steve Eimers, has been vocal about the hazards of these structures after the loss of his daughter in a similar incident. "Instead of ribboning away from the vehicle, the guardrail spears or pierces the vehicle," Eimers said, describing the fatal flaw in the guardrail's design, according to a 12 News article.
Despite the grim prognosis, Weinstein is to be released from rehab the following Friday, with plans to return to his active lifestyle, including snowboarding. His mother, Candice Mishler, attributes his miraculous recovery to divine providence. "God. He brings it out in me because without Him I wouldn't be here," Weinstein expressed his gratitude, as reported by 12 News. Elliot, however, was not so fortunate and died at the scene, spurring students at Mountain Ridge High School to gather in remembrance and support of Weinstein.
The guardrail in question, known as the ET-Plus system has been associated with multiple injuries and fatalities across the country, leading to numerous lawsuits and scrutiny regarding its safety. The Federal Highway Administration deemed the design satisfactory, but critics like Eimers continue to advocate for an overhaul, emphasizing the real-world consequences of the system's failures. "Ultimately, we're not talking about guardrail systems, we're talking about people's lives," Eimers told 12 News, amplifying the impact such infrastructure has on actual human beings. ADOT has since ceased installation of new ET-Plus systems, although thousands remain on the state's roads, potentially posing further risk to motorists.
