Maslin Kurtz, 25, is back home in Myakka City after a terrifying run-in with an alligator that sent her vehicle rolling on March 5. She spent several days in the ICU with fractures to her shoulder, sternum and spine, but did not need surgery. Friends and family have launched an online fundraiser to help cover medical bills and living costs while she heals.
Pulled From A Crushed Car
According to reporting by the Miami Herald, a couple who came upon the wreck pulled Kurtz from the crushed vehicle and prayed with her until emergency crews arrived. The crash, which investigators describe as an encounter with wildlife that caused the vehicle to flip, happened March 5 in Myakka City. The Herald notes that images tied to the fundraiser appear to show the rescuers tending to Kurtz before first responders took over.
Fundraiser And Recovery
The GoFundMe created for Kurtz states that she spent a few days in the ICU before being released to continue recovering at home, and that her injuries include fractures to her shoulder, sternum and spine. The fundraiser page, organized by Janelle Peachey with Kurtz listed as co-organizer, shows $6,517 raised toward a $9,000 goal to help with medical and living expenses. "Truly a miracle I'm here today," Kurtz wrote on the page, thanking the people who pulled her from the vehicle.
Alligators And Road Safety
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes that alligators sometimes cross roads, especially when the weather warms up, and advises residents not to approach wildlife. Instead, people are urged to call its Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR if an animal appears to pose a threat. FWC's alligator pages offer tips for living near alligators and outline when licensed trappers will be sent out. Officials say awareness and contacting the appropriate hotline are the safest options when gators wander into neighborhoods or onto roadways.
Myakka City and nearby Manatee and Sarasota counties have seen other notable alligator incidents in recent years, including a 2022 attack near Lake Manatee that sent a man to the hospital, according to local reporting. For now, friends and neighbors are keeping their attention on Kurtz's recovery and the bills that followed the kind of alligator encounter most Floridians hope they never have.
