Officer Tina Egelston of the Edgewood ISD is currently on a challenging path to recovery after being struck by a car while assisting a stranded motorist in January. According to KENS 5, Egelston has stated "I don't fear death," despite being pronounced dead seven times following the incident. The accident left her in a coma for weeks, amounted to months in hospitalization, and inflicted a major brain injury.
In a statement obtained by KSAT, Edgewood ISD police chief Jesse Quiroga described the extent of her injuries, including a fractured skull and ribs, as well as a brain bleed. The officer was off-duty at the time, working at the Frost Bank Center and didn't hesitate to help a citizen who approached her for assistance with their vehicle.
Both Egelston and the stranded motorist were parked on the highway's right shoulder when a third car crashed into them, as reported by San Antonio Police. While the other person was injured and stabilized, Officer Egelston's recovery journey included a difficult rehabilitation process focusing on hand-eye coordination, memory skills, and speech therapy. Despite the critical nature of her injuries, she credits her family, fellow officers, and even strangers for offering support throughout her ordeal.
Although her career in law enforcement is still uncertain, Egelston expressed a desire to return to it someday, missing the interactions with the kids at Edgewood ISD. "I know I got a purpose and I am going to fulfill that purpose," she told KENS 5, even though another surgery awaits her the following Friday. San Antonio Police have said no criminal charges are pending against the driver who caused the crash, and that the case has been closed.
