Sallisaw Woman Survives 40-Foot Bridge Leap to Avoid Oncoming Truck

Malora Stites recounts her harrowing near-death experience and the long road to recovery ahead.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:07pm

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Malora Stites, a 18-year-old from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, found herself in a life-or-death situation on a rural Arkansas highway in the early hours of the morning. After losing control of her car and crashing into a concrete barrier on the I-49 bridge, Stites called 911 and tried to warn oncoming traffic. When a semi-truck barreled down the shoulder towards her, Stites made the split-second decision to leap over the bridge's edge, falling 40 feet onto the road below. Stites survived the harrowing fall but suffered multiple serious injuries, including broken bones in her back, fractured ribs, pelvis, and sternum.

Why it matters

Stites' story highlights the incredible resilience of the human spirit in the face of life-threatening danger. Her willingness to take such a drastic action to save her own life, even in the midst of a terrifying situation, is a testament to the power of the will to survive. This incident also raises important questions about highway safety, the challenges of disabled vehicles on busy roads, and the need for better emergency response protocols, especially in rural areas.

The details

After crashing into the bridge barrier, Stites called 911 and tried to wave down oncoming traffic to warn them of her disabled vehicle blocking both lanes. As a semi-truck approached, Stites realized it would not be able to stop in time, so she made the split-second decision to leap over the bridge's edge, falling 40 feet onto the road below. Stites suffered multiple serious injuries in the fall, including broken bones in her back, fractured ribs, pelvis, and sternum. Emergency crews were unable to airlift her to the hospital due to weather conditions, so she was transported by ambulance to a medical center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and then transferred to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

  • The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. on December 28, 2025 in Crawford County, Arkansas.
  • Stites spent over a week recovering in the hospital in Springfield, Missouri.
  • Two weeks after the incident, Stites gave her first media interview with KFSM Channel 5.

The players

Malora Stites

An 18-year-old woman from Sallisaw, Oklahoma who survived a 40-foot fall from a bridge after her car crashed and she was confronted with an oncoming semi-truck.

Washington Regional Medical Center

The hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas where Stites was initially transported by ambulance after the incident.

Cox Medical Center South

The hospital in Springfield, Missouri where Stites was later transferred and spent over a week recovering from her injuries.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't realize how high up I was until I started falling down. I felt like I was reliving my life all over again. I had like a million different dreams in the span of like a second. It was really insane.”

— Malora Stites

“Multiple people have called it a miraculous survival.”

— Malora Stites

“I would never have thought, leaving that night, that the next time I came home would be in a wheelchair. There was a really high chance that I couldn't even walk again at all ever. And I'm really grateful that I can.”

— Malora Stites

What’s next

Stites faces a long road to recovery, including several months of using a wheelchair and undergoing physical therapy to regain her ability to walk. She will also need to purchase a stairlift for her two-story home, which is not covered by her insurance.

The takeaway

Stites' harrowing experience serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of being prepared for unexpected emergencies. Her willingness to take drastic action to save her own life, even in the face of grave danger, is an inspiring example of the human spirit's capacity for survival. This incident also highlights the need for improved highway safety measures and emergency response protocols, especially in rural areas.