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Hit-and-run crash victim recovers as Chamblee launches traffic safety initiative

Jabrion Canada, a recent metro Atlanta crash victim, said she was merging onto I-85 when a super speeder hit her, almost costing her life.

CHAMBLEE, Ga. — The City of Chamblee wants drivers to be alert this holiday season. With help from a federal grant, officials are launching a High Visibility Traffic Enforcement initiative that's aimed at slowing down super speeders. 

Jabrion Canada, a recent metro Atlanta crash victim, said she was merging onto I-85 when a super speeder hit her, almost costing her life.

“Waking up in the hospital, I was so confused, I was like, 'Why am I here? Where’s my family?' I was trying to take off my tubes,” Canada said.

The Dec. 7 hit-and-run crash changed her life.

“They rear-ended me from the back, pushed me into a semi-truck. My car then flipped and I was ejected from the back. I was told that my car flipped a number of times. Towards the end -- maybe the last flip -- I came out of the rear window.” Canada said.

She said she was lying on road for about 30 minutes and a good Samaritan blocked other drivers from running her over.

“Sixteen broken ribs, my pelvis is dislocated, my brain was bleeding, punctured lungs. Surgery on my face. So, there is now plates and screws in my face,” Canada went on.

As she recovers, the Chamblee Police Department is starting an initiative aimed at slowing people down in their jurisdiction.

"It’s not about citations, it’s just about us making contact," said Lt. Collier with Chamblee Police Department. "I like to call it educating the public. You know, we write just as many warnings as we do citations but if someone can learn from that and say 'I probably need to slow down,' then we’ve done our job for the day."

The initiative is possible through a grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The money will be used to purchase a new speed detection sign as well as lasers and radar for patrol units. The remaining funds will go towards staffing.

In the mean time, Canada is urging drivers to keep other people's safety in mind. 

“I really didn’t think it could happen to me but here I am," Canada said as she whipped her tears.

As of Tuesday, police are still looking for driver who hit Canada. She's still facing multiple surgeries, and her family created an online fundraiser to help with medical expenses.

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