A Dallas woman who was left fighting for her life after a horror hit-and-run crash that killed her roommate has been breathing unaided for the first time in two months.
Camryn Herriage, 23, was left on a ventilator after being involved in the smash alongside her college roommate and three other friends on February 11.
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light on Beckley Avenue, Dallas, when a Ford pickup truck slammed into them, causing a chain reaction car crash.
Herriage was rushed to hospital and placed on a ventilator while her college roommate Sara House, 22, lost her life in the horrific collision.
Her uncle Tim Herriage said on Facebook this week Camryn had been breathing on her own, writing: ‘Camryn has been breathing on her own for over 24 hours!’
Camryn Herriage, 23, was riding in a car alongside her college roommate and three other friends on February 11
On Sunday, her uncle Tim Herriage said on Facebook that Camryn had been breathing on her own
Herriage’s best friend and college roommate from Texas Tech University, Sara House, (pictured) tragically died in the hit-and-run
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light on Beckley Avenue, in Dallas, when a Ford pickup truck slammed into them, causing a chain reaction car crash
All of the passengers were rushed to hospital where Herriage had been relying on a ventilator before she turned a corner last week
He added: ‘A speech therapist will visit soon to assess her ability to use voice control.
‘This step could potentially lead to her trying to speak, and if successful, they might plug the tracheostomy.
‘Additionally, there’s a hopeful outlook for Camryn to transition into a regular room within the next week or so.
‘All of these developments are positive signs of Camryn’s progress. Thank you for your continued support as we embrace this good news.’
The two were struck by an ‘extremely intoxicated’ woman, later identified as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero who bystanders say fled the scene on foot.
Guerrero was later arrested 11 days after the collision when detectives located her wallet in her vehicle.
She is now facing multiple charges, including manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She is being held in Dallas County jail.
House worked at Ralph Lauren after graduating from Texas Tech, having studied business, management and marketing and also competed in bikini competitions.
The woman who allegedly took off was later identified by police as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero
Herriage works at a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas
The pair of college roommates (pictured) were extremely close and would often make TikToks together, which Herriage shared on her profile boasting 32,000 followers
House was remembered in a GoFundMe, which has raised over $36,000, for her ‘bright spirit and infectious laughter’.
‘Sara was known for her compassionate nature and her unwavering desire to make everyone around her happy,’ her loved ones said last month.
‘Her kindness and caring demeanor touched the lives of many, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her.’
Herriage’s sister Casie Campanello previously said: ‘A careless act put us in a situation that change all of our lives.
While Herriage continues to fight for her life in the ICU, her older sister Casie Campanello hasn’t left her side for weeks. ‘Literally, a careless act. Put us in a situation that changed all of our lives’
Herriage, 23, was riding in a car alongside friends when they were struck
Sara House worked as an executive sales associate assistant at Ralph Lauren after graduating from Texas Tech, having studied business, management and marketing and competed in bikini competitions
‘We are very helpless and just stay strong her her, but it’s very difficult to see. When she came out of her first surgery the surgeon told us he told us he never saw anyone make it to the hospital with her injury. So she has a purpose.’
The college roommates were extremely close and would often make TikToks together, which Herriage shared on her profile boasting 32,000 followers.
Herriage works at a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas.
She had only recently moved back to North Texas after graduating from college in December.