'Miracle' infant who survived fatal crash goes home

A Utah infant who survived 14 hours dangling above icy river water after a car crash that killed her mother has made a "miracle" recovery and is out of the hospital, her father says.

Eighteen-month-old Lily Groesbeck suffered only bruises when her 25-year-old mother crashed on a bridge late Friday and landed in the Spanish Fork River. She was released Wednesday from a Salt Lake City hospital, where she was admitted in critical condition Saturday afternoon.

Her father, Deven Trafny, told reporters his daughter was now "in great condition — happy, playing, talking and even reciting her nursery rhymes."

"It's a miracle. The doctors say it's a miracle," said the 34-year-old Trafny, who held a bedside vigil after rescuers found her upside down in her car seat, just inches above the water. "She should be gone. She shouldn't be here. I'm blessed. I'm counting all my blessings right now."

Traftny, a drywaller, was engaged to Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck, whom he called "the love of my life." He was working in Montana at the time of the accident, which happened about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City.

"Now we will focus on rebuilding our lives after the loss of Lily's mother, Jenny," said Trafny who credited rescuers, doctors and hospital staff with saving his daughter's life.

Police haven't yet determined why Groesbeck's car hit a concrete barrier and then plunged into the river about 10:30 p.m. Friday. Investigators said she might have been distracted or drowsy.

The crash impact apparently killed her instantly, police said. No one saw the accident, and the barrier blocked a view of the partially submerged wreckage, which a fisherman spotted about noon Saturday.

Investigators found a small bag of marijuana in the Groesbeck's purse, along with a bottle of the painkiller Tramadol and an unused syringe, said Spanish Fork police Lt. Matt Johnson.

Toxicology reports will determine whether drugs may have contributed to the crash, he said, adding that "we're not jumping to conclusions."

Groesbeck, who was studying to be a medical assistant, will be buried Saturday.