Parents of Fashion Model Who Walked Into Plane Propeller Give Tearful Interview: We Prayed Over Her as She Lay There
- Posted on December 6, 2011 at 4:54pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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A 23-year-old model and fashion blogger is clinging to life today, having suffered horrific injuries after walking into a spinning airplane propeller over the weekend.
Lauren Scruggs had gone with a friend for a private flight Saturday night to view Dallas Christmas lights from the sky. While exiting the plane, Scruggs walked directly into the spinning propeller and the blades sliced the left side of her face and severed her left hand. Scruggs’s emotional parents spoke with “Good Morning America” Tuesday:
Prior to their interview, ABC did a report on the freak accident:
After the accident, Scruggs was rushed by helicopter to the hospital were she underwent several surgeries over the weekend and is now stable at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Lauren’s father told “Good Morning America” of his daughter’s condition:
‘Yesterday was a good day, there was a lot of really positive progress,’ Jeff Scruggs, Lauren’s father, said on ‘Good Morning America’ Tuesday. ‘They took out her tube in the afternoon. She didn’t speak right away … I said Lauren will you say “hi” to Daddy, and she goes, “hi.” Later she told one of Cheryl’s sisters that she loved her. So that was so so encouraging to us that she started speaking yesterday.’
While it was dark out when she exited the plane, investigators are still not yet sure what caused Scruggs to walk into the propeller. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident.
“To the doctors and her family’s delight, Lauren said a few words this afternoon,” a Scruggs family member wrote Monday evening on the CaringBridge website. “We pray that her brain will continue to heal and have full restoration!”
Fox News reports doctors have told the family it will be a long road to recovery due to the nature of Lauren’s injuries.
“The most important thing is that she loves the lord, but besides that, she’s a fun-loving, gregarious, outgoing young lady that’s never met a stranger,” her father said Tuesday. “She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.”
Scruggs, who lives in Plano, Texas, is the editor of the online fashion magazine LOLO and has also worked in the costume department of the show “Gossip Girl.”
The Lolo Magazine Team wrote on their website Tuesday, “On behalf of Lauren, we would like to say thank you for all of your kind wishes and prayers. “






















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Comments (189)
navypop
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:07pmGod bless her …she has my prayers.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:19pmI don’t tell God to bless anyone, because I don’t think I have that authority or God.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:22pm“Over God.”
Report Post »Jomil48
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:23pmShe will be in our prayers as will her family. All things work together, sometimes that all things is hard to swollow. God bless this family.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:29pmto Eliasim. Jesus gave EVERYONE Authority to talk to God with the right to ask him to bless anyone. Read the Bible.
Report Post »Think about it
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:31pmEliasim- what is wrong with you?!
Report Post »Ari Ben TZion
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:59pmThis is terrible – poor girl. But how the hell could this happen?
Report Post »Ari Ben TZion
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:02pmGuys, I think Eliasim needs a hug.
Either that or he forgot to take his Chlorpromazine.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:13pmGod desires that we invoke His blessings, and that we partner with Him in our sojourns. I asked my Heavenly Father to be with this young lady, to strengthen and console her and her family, and to bless them in accordance with His will. If it is His will, He will bless them, because as a loving Father, He knows what gifts to give. This is my testimony, and this is my witness.
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:21pmWho are you to contest GOD WILL?
I nominate her for a Darwin award.!.
Report Post »Misty Williams
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:41pmGod, bless Lauren. Please, bless her family. God, strengthen them. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
(@Eliasim
Report Post »I think the expression “God bless” whoever is more a request, it’s just usually punctuated incorrectly.)
ashestoashes
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:37pmThis could easily happen because when a propeller is spinning..you cannot see it.. I wish the stem cell research was coming along a little faster…people need help now…I hate that the FDA takes 10 years to approve something sometimes when most of the drugs that they approve wind up getting the drug companies sued…But people need help now..just think if they could regrow her hand from her own cells and what ever else needs repairing and yes…may God bless her and her family…seems like a very kind one.
Report Post »RowdieGal
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:58pmEliasm, we ASK God to bless people when we use that phrase. Many of us also ask that His will be done. My prayers are with this young lady and her family. What a horrific tragedy.
Report Post »helicop
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:01pm@Ground zero….
I guess you have never done something you looked back on and said, “Holy Sh$%, that scared the crap out of me, I was lucky”. If you can say you haven’t, you must never take a risk or you live with mommy.
Most of us have had an experience like that and we fall into one of three categories: 1. So lucky that we never notice our faults; 2. So lucky that we only get the crap scared out of us but learn a lesson; or 3. Wounded or dead from our mistakes. Since I only wish ill will on a select few, I hope you fall into one of the first two categories. Think about it.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:53pmIf this had happened to a liberal then the comment here would be hateful.
AzDebi
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:48pmUsed to fly from hospital to hospital around the valley in a helicopter…our pilot, Ai, used to remind us EACH AND EVERY TIME we exited the chopper, “Go forward…Go forward…Go forward”…I mean, each and every time even if we flew to half a dozen hospitals a day…he NEVER forgot to say it and NEVER changed his protocol…obviously for very CRITICAL reasons…I’ll pray for her recovery.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:43amAZDDEBI Forgive me..but why did the pilot say to go forward?
JJ Coolay
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 6:43amGround Zero… I think you have to die to win that award. And also, that award goes to morons that choose to participate in life-ending events, not people who have accidents.
Report Post »Jimbtv
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:15amWhile most of us will speak to God, asking for his grace and understanding, Eliasim should spend some time learning the difference between a command and a declarative.
As an aircraft owner and pilot, no one ever gets in or out of an aircraft while the propeller is spinning. This is a sad yet avoidable accident.
Report Post »killertofu
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:49amAshestoashes,
The pilot said “go forward” most likely because helicopters have a tail rotor in the rear that would prove hazardous if you went any direction but forward when exiting the helicopter.
Hope that helps.
On another note, I’ve been a pilot for 10 years now and have worked at GA airports around the country. I’ve heard of about 15 incidents of people coming into contact with propellers. You’d be surprised how often it actually occurs – and this is with trained airport personnel. I don‘t think it’s fair to “nominate her for a Darwin award”. Not only was it night, but she was in an obviously unfamiliar environment to her. Not only are airplane propellers virtually invisible while spinning (especially at night) but are also located in different locations depending on the configuration of the aircraft.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:36am@KILLERTOFU ..I was thinking that when she said to go forward…it would have been to the front ot the helicopter…just on my own I would have thought to go outward…thank you for simplifying it. just a play on words could get one killed.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:54am@ashestoashes:
Report Post »AZDDEBI Forgive me..but why did the pilot say to go forward?
__________________________________
Because we had a rear rotor on the “helicopter”…
Beckisdelusional
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:32amMaybe the Muppets made her do it. Damn Commies…
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:44am@AZDEBI Thank you…I just hope they don’t ever put a propeller out to the side…lol
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:06amJJ COOLAY
Really? Are you new here or what? Take a look around. It happens every time. Take the blinders off.
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:07pmElias, the statement “God bless . . . ” is not a command, but a supplication to ask God to bless the person(s). Don’t get wrapped up in the minute details.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:16pmHow sad. My prayers are with her family. May God restore this young girl for the sake of his glory.
Report Post »Metro
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:14pmYou don’t tell God to do anything. You ask him for his blessing and help.
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 4:21amI deeply regret this young lady‘s injury and pray for healing and restroration in Jesus’ name.
Report Post »S_Scarrella
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:39pmYes, God bless and I bless her. May she have a quick recovery.
Report Post »Kiwon
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:06pmblaze, the proper quote from the parents is, “The most important thing is that she loves The Lord….”
Show respect for God! That is what the parents intended!
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:18pmShe loves the Lord so much that she walked into a sword that turns in all directions.
barber2
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:44pmE: You need to be ignored by the Blaze and given mental health help by experts.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:00pmEliasm…I hope God hears you and takes appropriate action to slice your life in small pieces. diot!
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:48pmSo if God is all powerful, then he as the power to rid the world of evil and accidents like this. So why doesn’t he? Does he enjoy the suffering and groveling praise of his worshippers?
Answer: God doesn’t work like that. Never has. There‘s plenty we don’t know about space and the universe and there’s no reason to rule out there being a higher power behind it all but this idea that God steps in and micro-manages everyone’s life, TO ME, doesn’t jive.
Report Post »AYFKM
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:15amAnd you think any of us care, why?
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:14pmEliasim, You come on here all the time talking like you are some kind of God guru and you are not. I am beginning to believe that you are an atheist and just like causing grief to people here. If I am wrong about you being an atheist, I suggest you go to your pastor, minister,or whatever title your religious leader has and sign up for bible study classes. If you are going to give advice about biblical beliefs, you should get yourself informed.
Report Post »DirtyDeeds
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:51pmIt is poor form to manage passengers with motors running, to include props winding down. At the very least the pilot should have ERO’d the pax (engine running offload). What that would probably mean is to shut down the motors on the side of the plane that passengers would be exiting the plane. Or if it is a single engine plane, just shut it down. It‘s plane lazy for a pilot to not run one or two checklists and put people’s lives at risk. Really though, who the heck walks into a spinning prop…someone who has no business around airplanes and needs an escort off the ramp.
Report Post »DirtyDeeds
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:56pmplain not plane
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:57pmWhy is it that a construction worker cuts off his hand with a saw which affects his career it isn’t news, but when a dingy model walks into a moving airplane propeller which is bound to affect her job, it is news?
Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:01pmI liken it to a cat jumping up into the engine of a running car.
Eliasim
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:10pmIf she had been ugly it would have never made the national news.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:50pmWhen I used to skydive we had a visiting skydiver walk backwards into the prop of the Twin Otter.
Report Post »He did not survive the accident.
It is very important to always be aware of your surroundings any time you are around dangerous equipment and epsecially if you are not familiar with it.
obamanation
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:23pmTerrible time to have blonde moment!!
Really though, I’m sorry, but who walks into a running prop?
Report Post »josephp
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:07pmEliasim, A model getting her face torn off by a propellor is big news. She also lost her left hand I believe. Unfortunately for many people today, they read your comments. You’re a brave person to say stuff like that here. Say it to her. Say it to her parents. I hope you are humbled some day and become a kinder person capable of compassion instead of vitriol sarcasm. Get a heart!
Report Post »Puppy
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:14pmAmen to that. If the person doesn’t have sense enough to not walk through a turning prop, then they need to be escorted away from the aircraft. Of course, she should have been properly instructed as to how to exit an aircraft and in which direction to travel upon exiting. Hope she has a speedy recovery.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:02am“who the heck walks into a spinning prop…”
Try an Aspen Airways VP. Pro or no, props can/do kill foks. I did 6000 hours working for a company where single engine turns were the norm. It saved a lot of time (you could blow through a city in three minutes). However, it was always a sword of Damocles hanging out on the right side of the aircraft.
Once…… !Once! in 30 years, I started walking towards a prop that was still turning. I was still 30 ft. away, but I was quite prepared to walk through that arc. I stopped, and reconsidered. Death can come quickly when you aren’t thinking, even if you’re a pro.
Report Post »HAPPYRWE
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:31pmEliaism…why is it that when our elected officials both Republican and Democrat kill jobs and send jobs overseas so that Americans have no work, and our elected officials regulate businesses into the ground so that no one can build jobs and rebuild America. And how come elected officials both R and D can sneak in to the Defense bill a law that imprisons Americans without trial or proof of guilt. How come the news is not alerting us of these anti-freedom bills? Why are Socialists and Communists brainwashed into believing freedom and wealth is bad, and famine and slavery are good, how come?
Report Post »barnsy
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:05pmPlease people dont get me wrong,I would never make lite of this terrible tragedy.She was a fashion blogger. Is there a chance she was destracted,maybe texting?
Report Post »barnsy
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:30pmEliasim,I hope you just get off on pushing peoples buttens.Maybe your just young and stupid.If you really are the d..ch bag you come across as,be careful.Wether its retribution or karma your nasty crap is going to come back to haunt you. Im a firm believer in“what goes around comes around”.
Report Post »Do The Right Thing
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:50pmWe used to call it “propeller hypnosis” and it’s real, I came really close to walking into a C-130 prop years ago, was brought out of it by a guy tapping on my shoulder, quite innocently, I’ll never forget it, the guy had no idea he had just saved my life, and I never thanked him, because I was worried I’d soon be unemployed if I let anyone else know. never looked directly into a prop or rotor again. That was a very scary experience, and though it was years ago, in some ways, it feels like it was yesterday. I wonder if this woman was looking into the prop, and it drew her in by hypnosis…
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:24pmI remember a similar feeling, when I had not had my drivers lisence very long, and was driving on the interstate. A tractor trailer truck was slowly passing me and I found myself gazing into the huge spinning tire right on the side of my front fender and was slowly steering toward it in a sort of hypnotic trance! WOW! I snapped out of it at the last moment and was careful to never stare the tires of a passing truck since.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:48amIt was at night and the engine/prop was most likely idled down so there wasn’t too much wind.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:43pmI pray for her recovery. I’d like the blaze to do a follow-up, tracking her recovery. Did they re-attach her hand? No mention of it if they did. I’d like to know.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:07pmI will pray for her and her family.
Report Post »May God bless this woman and help her heal.
Vickie Dhaene
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:17amThis was tragic and we will pray for her and her family and friends. May she find herself out of the Valley.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:41pmThis woman is VERY lucky to be alive. The question needs to be asked why she was allowed on the ramp while the engine was running. Normally only trained ground crew are to be outside the aircraft while the engines are run up. Somebody was not following standard safety procedures and there needs to be an investigation.
Report Post »Collbuzz
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:42pmI totally agree and God bless and help her.
Report Post »Charles
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:40pmIt was dark and the prop was spinning. My first question was why did the pilot allow people to get out of the plane until the props stopped turning? That‘s why they’re called accidents. My prayers go out to her and the pilot as well. The pilot no doubt wishes the protocol had been different that night as much as anyone.
Report Post »GUNNSUP
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:28amCopy that Blackcrow, someone failed to give out a proper safety briefing. I wish her a speedy recovery. She‘s lucky the prop didn’t take her head off….
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:40pmI have always thought there should be a flashing red light on the underside of the engine for multi engine private planes. It should be highly visible for 360 degrees. This light should be activated when the landing gear is down. When I have asked about this in the past, I was laughed at by aviators. Meanwhile every once in a while someone does not know the prop is spinning and walks into it.
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:37pmGrammar check please
Report Post »Hunrodr
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:36pmOMG….God bless her and her parents….I hope they have faith, they’ll need it.
Report Post »conbones
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:29pmmy god!! its a miracle she survived. I pray for her swift recovery.
Report Post »crazytalk
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:26pmAlmost walked into a tail rotor one time. Easier than you think with noise and distractions.
Report Post »JohnGaltCalling
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:25pmHad went? Don’t you have to pass grammar school to become a journalist?…
Report Post »pattib71
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:38pmA very disturbing story and I will pray for Lauren…but…the grammar in this article is horrible coming from an Assistant Editor on The Blaze! Then I read that he graduated from Boston College. Someone should be ashamed.
Report Post »pattib71
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:40pmI just noticed that someone changed “went” to “gone”
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:25pmMerciful Lord, please help this beautiful young woman recover from this horrific turn of events. It is your plan for her that whatever path she takes is up to you and her.
Report Post »Amen
Katie822
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:34pmAmen.
Report Post »helicop
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:23pmAs a commercial helicopter pilot and private airplane pilot, incidents such as this are a reminder of safety precautions that commercial and private pilots are schooled in. While this type of incident is rare, it is certainly not unheard of. Many people have suffered similar fates from airplane propellers, and helicopter main and tail rotor systems.
I am not being critical of the pilot, because we certainly do not know all of the facts, but a safety briefing should always be perfomed by either the pilot in command or a member of the flight crew, where a flight crew is utilized. This briefing should contain necessary ground precautions, such as embarking and disembarking the aircraft as well as what to expect in the event of an emergency. Persons should be advised to never walk near or approach the aircraft from the nose, in the case of airplanes since this is usually where a spinning propeller will be found, or the tail, in the case of helicopters due to the tail rotor system. The best rule of thumb is to simply stay at least 50 feet away from any aircraft while it is on the ground running and to remain in the aircraft until it shuts down and all propeller/rotor systems are stationary.
Aircraft are great modes of transportation and a marvel of mans’ capabilities but they demand a great deal of caution and respect and one should never take any operation lightly, as this situation indicates.
Report Post »PlowMan
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:31pmIt is people like you who keep us safe everyday. Thanks
Report Post »Prayers for this young lady are indeed needed and I will send one up to be sure.
TH30PH1LUS
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:22pmI’m praying for you, Lauren.
Report Post »Seneca
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:20pmOur prayers are with her, her family, and her medical staff.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:52pmMine as well SENECA.
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:17pmMy thoughts and prayers are with the young lady and her family.I pray GOD WILL TOUCH HER WITH HIS HEALING LOVE.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:12pmAs horrible as this is it confuses me, and I wonder if it’s not as simple as mistakenly walking into the blade…but maybe I shouldn’t be surprised? Would a model be less likely to understand anything about the differences of airplanes? They plane the showed was obviously a single engine prop. Should I not assume everyone knows how that kind of plane works? That a spinning propeller at the front creates thrust.I asked my girlfriend once if she knew what a spark plug was for. She said “no.” I joking said, “and they let you have a drivers license?”
Report Post »Christine Graham
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:33pmI would doubt it has anything to do with actually understanding the mechanics of a plane. I know for me, whenever I disembark a plane (especially a small Cesna-like plane), I experience a sense of vertigo and disorientation. Combined with the darkness, I could see how it could happen, and how a person could walk-up on something without realizing it until it was right in front of them.
Sad story, though.
Report Post »geomann
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:35pmI agree. They say it was dark and noisey, so she probably didn’t know where the noise was coming from. With so many jet planes these days, she may not have even realized there was an exposed prop.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:10pmWow , how terrible. May God bless her and her family to stay strong… It makes me think how precious it all is !!!! Bless her : ((
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:04pmJust Pray for her….
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:04pmCrap. That’s terrible. My face hurts just reading the story. I wish her and her family the best.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:03pmPraise the Lord, she is responding to people; I will be praying for this family; Glad they have a faith to rely on.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:03pmPrayers for healing, for Lauren and her family during this very tragic time.
Report Post »JohnTwoFeathers
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:01pmWow!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:00pmHeard about this today…
May God grant a swift recovery,
Report Post »May He heal her scars of the mind and soul,
May He heal her physical injuries,
May He bless her with a full and abundant life,
May all praise Him for sparing her life.
thegrassroots
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:10pmAmen!
Report Post »hi
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:04pmAmen!
Report Post »ladyda
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:59pmand Amen. How horrible.
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:39pmAmen
Report Post »