CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — A Clovis teen has a new outlook on life after a near-fatal crash last month.<\/p>\n
“I never thought that something like this would happen to me and then it did,” Kaylyn Burger said about the accident.<\/p>\n
18-year-old Kaylyn Burger has almost made a full recovery after a car crash left her in critical condition last month.<\/p>\n
“There’s really no explanation for how well she is doing right now other than she is a miracle,” her mom, Christy Sanchez said.<\/p>\n
Clovis Police say Kaylyn’s mini-van ran into a semi-truck<\/a> near Minnewawa and Shepherd around 9:30 on the morning of January 16.<\/p>\n “It was shock that life could be so fragile that in an instant it is completely different,” Sanchez said. “It was awful.”<\/p>\n Dense fog filled the scene that morning, which investigators say was a factor in the crash.<\/p>\n Police say it appears Kaylyn’s van ran a red light, but the incident remains under investigation.<\/p>\n Kaylyn was taken to the hospital where she spent the next four weeks unsure if she’d ever be able to walk or talk again.<\/p>\n “It was several days maybe a week before she was extubated to where she could be awake and we could try to get some sort of responses from her,” Sanchez recalled.<\/p>\n RELATED: Clovis teen returns home after weeks in hospital following fog crash<\/a><\/p>\n Kaylyn can’t remember anything from the day of the crash; even her memory of the hospital is fuzzy, but in the weeks following, she made progress relearning how to walk with the help of medical professionals.<\/p>\n “From what i can remember, it was very hard. Learning how to take my first steps again at 18 years old wasn’t something I thought I’d ever have to do,” Kaylyn said.<\/p>\n As she worked to recover, the community reached out sending her cards filled with kind words.<\/p>\n “Wishing you an easy and speedy recovery. We will be praying for you. Lots of love,” Kaylyn read from a card.<\/p>\n “We’re grateful for all the support that we’ve received from the community, family, friends and strangers,” Sanchez said.<\/p>\n Kaylyn says she has not completely recovered, but can walk as if the accident never happened and is thankful for a second chance at life.<\/p>\n “My outlook on life is like you have to just do things. If you’re scared to do things, just do it,” Kaylyn said.<\/p>\n Kaylyn is still building her strength and working through physical therapy with plenty of doctor’s appointments lined up.<\/p>\n The Buchanan senior hasn’t been able to go back to school yet, but is excited for that moment and all of the other excitement that comes with senior year.<\/p>\n For news and weather updates, follow Tiffany Olin on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n