A 21-year-old man is being praised as a hero for protecting his girlfriend in his last moments in a terrible Texas wreck. According to a crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Jaelen Green, 21, passed away at the site of the accident on Highway 281 in Erath County on January 17.
According to the investigation, Green’s southbound car was struck by a car driven by 63-year-old Karen Huey that had swerved out of its lane while heading north. Green’s girlfriend, Nicole Doggett, 22, survived the collision with severe injuries, but both drivers, Huey and Green, were declared dead at the scene.
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After the collision, Doggett was taken to a hospital for treatment. DPS stated that the crash investigation was ongoing, according to a report by People.
Green and Doggett’s close friend Aliya Hoover created a GoFundMe campaign to cover Green’s funeral expenses and shared that Doggett recounted the moments leading up to the crash.
Hoover said to People that Doggett “told me that the accident happened very quickly.”
“Jaelen always told Nicole he would protect her, and he did until he couldn’t anymore,” Hoover recounted. “Jaelen’s bravery in those final moments speaks to the incredible person he was—always putting others before himself.”
She also shared in a statement on the fundraiser that, “She [Doggett] stated that Jaelen grabbed her leg really hard and then threw himself onto her in [an] effort to shield her.”
Doggett’s roommate, Kai Ward, also told Fox4 News that “Nicole said the car actually lost so much control, they got hit from the back end of the car, and the driver side took all the impact. Jae was driving. In his last moments, he tried to shield Nicole, and we think that’s probably what saved her.”
Meanwhile, Hoover said that Doggett suffered serious injuries in the collision, including a broken leg, arm, ribs and a collapsed lung. Hoover also started a separate GoFundMe page to help with Doggett’s medical fees and recovery costs.
Hoover recently provided a favorable report on Doggett’s health, stating that she was “doing much better” and was no longer in the intensive care unit as of January 23. Still, Doggett has a long path to rehabilitation.
“All of her friends are very supportive and love her very much,” Hoover added. Doggett’s loved ones remain committed to helping her heal in the months ahead, providing emotional and financial support to help her through this difficult time.
