UNBROKEN: Crane Hill wreck victim leaves hospital after near fatal injuries

A Crane Hill man thrown from truck during a rollover wreck April 21 headed home from the hospital Tuesday night after surviving almost certain death from internal decapitation and other injuries. 

Baker miraculously survived a horrific wreck that among other severe injuries, caused a rare medical condition — internal decapitation where the skull is severed from the spinal column without breaking the skin. 

Seventy percent of people die immediately from the injury, 15 percent don’t make it out of the emergency room and even less survive the hospital stay to go home. He also broke 13 ribs, his pelvis and a hip joint, fractured his spine, ruptured spleen and had a collapsed lung.

While it’s still very early in Baker’s recovery, he’s made remarkable progress and was discharged from UAB Hospital Tuesday night. 

The Heath’s Recovery GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for medical bills and other expenses to support his young family. 

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, $2,565 had been raised toward the $10,000 goal.

The father of two was on his way to work April 21 when his truck ran off County Road 222 shortly before 5:30 a.m. and flipped several times, throwing him from the vehicle, Alabama State Troopers said.