Model Lauren Scruggs Loses Hand in Plane Propeller Accident
 

Lauren Scruggs, a model and LOLO magazine fashion blogger, is slowly recovering from a plane accident over the weekend in which she lost her hand and suffered severe injuries after she accidentally walked into a spinning propeller.

Scruggs, who has also worked in the wardrobe department on Gossip Girl, was exiting a two-seater plane in McKinney, Texas, on Saturday after flying around Dallas to see Christmas lights when the accident occurred. The blades sliced the left side of her face and shoulder, and severed her left hand, which was later amputated following multiple reconstructive surgeries.

Her parents, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs, said on Tuesday's Good Morning America that their daughter made "positive progress" on Monday and was able to speak.

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"They took out her tube in the afternoon. She didn't speak right away," Jeff said. "I said, 'Lauren will you say 'hi' to Daddy?' And she goes, 'Hi.' Later she told one of Cheryl's sisters that she loves her. That was so encouraging to us. She's really uncomfortable as you can imagine."

The FAA is investigating the accident, but authorities are unsure at how it occurred. Jeff believes Scruggs, 23, went to thank the pilot when she got hit.

Cheryl was at the private airport at the time of the accident, but did not witness it. "I was inside, and someone came in and told me she had gotten hit," she said. "I was there until the care flight got there. I was just able to hold her and ... that's the toughest part of it all, just seeing her laying there and waiting for the help. All I could do was tell her that I love her."

Scruggs' left eye is still "questionable," according to her father, and the family is "praying she'll regain her sight." "It's going to be a long recovery," he said.

:helpme :helpme

thats awful, i can't imagine the pain of getting sliced by a propellar

Yes, a dreadful thing to happen to anyone.

I had one friend that lost her leg when she tried to climb up the outboard engine to get into the boat and I had another friend lose his life when he was sitting on top of the cage over the prop of his airboat and fell back into the prop.

Very unfortunate accidents that were easily avoidable using common sense.

Thats one angry looking woman in that photo.

Really sad that someone had not taught her proper safety around that airplane.

wow she walked into the blade?


DAMN that is terrible

Thats horrible... I cant even imagine what it would be like.

jesus man :Oh crap

Thats a true shame.. usually the pilots dont open the doors until the props have stopped..

It can be hard to see a rotating prop. How terrifying... :helpme



ADG

Holy shit :helpme

I can't even imagine .......

This would be totally the pilot's fault. How can you let passengers walk around outside the plane with a 100lb piece of metal spinning?

Damn,poor girl that must have been very painful

They're loud as fuck and in front of the of the, you know, engine. I personally can't imagine not knowing that spinning blades of death should be avoided.

Really, a pilot has to tell you not to walk into a spinning propellor?

No, what you mean is people are so stupid pilots have to tell them this.

She reminds me of Jim Carrey.

Especially at night.

http://img2.moonbuggy.org/imgstore/m...-off-heads.jpg

horrible but maybe drunk?

Yes. Especially a 23 year old blonde chick. Just because people can be stupid and lack common sense doesn't mean the pilot isn't at fault.

Like I said, it's heavy piece of metal spinning at a high velocity. There can't be a margin for error when it comes to safety outside the aircraft. So it's the pilot's fault for either not turning off the engine, or directing passengers after getting out. If he had done this(also common sense), the worst that she would have is a bump on the head.

i heard its bad to climb a ladder beside a helicopter too.. i don't believe it though...

That's devastating. Uyyy can't imagine!

I love your avatar, rogueteens. I saw Morecambe & Wise live once... many years ago.

Very sad indeed

Oh fuck!

That's worst case scenario :(

Surprised she's alive

Gee I wonder..........is this just another dork who has his private pilot license and offers to take hot women along in order to impress them?

i worked around prop jets for years and had to stop several ground crew from walking into a spinning prop. they can be hard to see and it's not the place to be day dreaming.

the crew normally won't even open the cabin door until the engine on the left side has stopped spinning so someone fucked up big time on this one.

aren't pilots suppose to turn off the engines/blades prior to off-boarding?

I worked around P-3 turboprop aircraft for a few years in the Navy, and we still had to be on our toes (doubly so since we were wearing goggles which can distort views and earplugs).

Someone is prolly gonna get sued... :2 cents:

ADG

So how exactly can he avoid that while sitting in the plane?

Props to the paramedics.

Hmm... funny, I'm no aviation expert but you sure as FUCK will never catch me walking in front of a prop plane. Or anywhere near a spinning prop for that matter. Get off... walk BEHIND the plane. And get away quickly.

Few people have any god damn common sense these days. Amazing.

[QUOTE=dgraves;18611524
the crew normally won't even open the cabin door until the engine on the left side has stopped spinning so someone fucked up big time on this one.[/QUOTE]

exactly, pilot screwed up big on this one.
she is lucky to have survived.

so many accidents on boats as well, peeps are intoxicated jump in the water behind a power boat and are sucked in by the props.

i had a really shitty airport job right after 9-11 for doing airside security on the runway. you would be amazed how many times you have to warn the baggage train drivers to not drive in front of the spinning turbine intakes on a plane that just landed. as ADG said they are not always easy to see moving and are virtually silent when the engine/thrust is killed... takes a few minutes for them to settle the RPMs down

Bit more interesting for the Lost Property office than an umbrella.

Lucky you, i wish i had the chance.

i worked at an engine overhaul shop for a few years and one time we got an engine in off a Dash-8 for overhaul that was identified as "Sudden Stoppage" as the reason for removal.

according to the airline, a female ground crew was walking backwards toward the aircraft while talking to another person and didn't realize how close she was to the prop. a few passengers on that side of the aircraft saw what was going on and were banging on the windows and yelling but of course that was useless. this chick backed into the prop and was killed instantly. several of the passengers immediately threw up.

stuff like this happens more than people realize.

That's fucked up!

So f.ing sad and I am a petty gruff guy.

But yeah. Pilot should have watched out for the passengers both on and off of the plane.

seeing her picture says a lot. Blond, but dark eyebrows.... Hmmm. Still sad.

Lets not forget about Vic Morrow and the two Vietnamese children killed during the filming of The Twilight Zone Movie ... mowed down by a helicopter prop :Oh crap

WARNING: NSFW - GRAPHIC VIOLENCE!!

Fuck!!!!!!!!!!!! :Oh crap:Oh crap

I remember a similar (kinda) thing in the UK, in the early nineties..

A business man, returned home from business trip, in his private helicopter, to his private landing pad, at his mansion...

He exited the helicopter without 'Ducking Down' as he was used to travelling this way, and his 4 / 5 year old daughter ran up up shouting daddy!

Without thinking, he took her in his arms, and threw her in the air..... WHOOPS....

It was reported as an horrific ACCIDENT, and no charges were made...

Very Sad - Sticks in my mind...