UPDATE: Jessi sits down with Motor Trend for a follow-up Q&A to answer viewer questions: http://wot.motortrend.com/1408_my_long_road_back_a_qanda_with_jessi_lang.html
One year ago, Jessi Lang, star of the Motor Trend show “The J-Turn,” suddenly disappeared from the Motor Trend Channel. Jessi had been involved in a near-fatal crash, the result of another driver’s error, while on assignment in Germany. With more than a dozen serious injuries and a shattered leg that has required numerous surgeries, her road to recovery has been long and arduous.
Though Jessi’s rehabilitation is far from over, she’s returned for a special edition of The J-Turn to share her story…
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There’s a lot of psychology effects that go along with the accident. She
probably went through therapy to deal with those issues and for the people
who keep saying she’s the dumbass, you have to remember that in Germany
it’s not only legal to drive like this, there are a set of rules of HOW to
drive on this road. Unfortunately, since humans are very prone to errors,
some people make mistakes and break these rules.
Everything you do, especially when your career involves high-performance
cars, has risks. Yes, this had more risk than being on an enclosed track,
but if you had access to a road like this and that car and thousands of
people drive like that EVERYDAY on that specific road, is it really that
much more of a risk?
Risks were taken, people made mistakes, and unfortunately they paid the
price. She did not void herself of any responsibility, she just wants to
explain that she was not being careless. She obviously cares very much for
the people around her and there is a lot more than her “speeding on a
highway”. Again, everyone has to remember that this is acceptable in this
country. Rules are in place. Respect is beyond mediocre.
Why the fuck were you traveling so much faster than the traffic in the lane
next to you? That’s fucking stupid no matter what car you’re driving or in
what country.
Not at all your fault?
Great story of survival. Way to go Jessi! You never gave up!
May cars bring you faster healing.
What happened to people in other car??
My respect-o-meter got stuck at the highest for this brave woman
And what about the innocent party that was nearly killed by your reckless
driving? Driving beyond your limits can kill you and innocent people who
had no part in your choices and the way you chose to drive. The speed limit
is a limit and not a guideline speed to drive at. Perhaps driving is not
your thing if you can discipline yourself and drive in a safe and
considerate manner. Remember you chose to press the accelerator and not the
brake. Know your limits,not the car or the roads! I hope you learn from
this. Stupidity,reckless stupidity.
I love your way of narration. It all seems so smooth.
European arrogance in full display here. Non of you were there, the poor
girl almost lost her life..then some with keyboards lecture her on ‘driving
in Germany’.
How many of you drive cars for a living on public roads like she does?
Safety was on her mind. But even in Germany stuff happens.
She is a competent professional in her field of work. Yes, that includes
Germany.
I don’t ever ever comment on videos much less engulp myself with or in
social media! Although I am a HUGE HUGE OVER THE TOP AUTOMOBILE LOVER OF
ALLLL SHAPES AND SIZES! I watch all your video’s (which I started doing due
the the fact of your beauty but found out shortly how much heart you have
with vehicles) 😉 You are an inspiration and I only CAN DREAM that one
day I might be able to meet you! (I realize this won’t ever happen
obviously)! But, I will say that when I stumbled upon this video my jaw
hit the floor with concern which might make me sound like a weirdo! I
assure you I’m NOTHING of the sort! I think your like the coolest chick in
the world! But found that you are one tough little shit! Do your thing and
maybe someday I’ll have the oppertunity of my lifetime of getting to sit
down and have a beer with you and talk shop!! 😉 You’re the shit without
the stank lol -Brock
Great to see some new stuff from you in my YouTube feed this morning Jessi.
All the best for your continued recuperation from here in Western Australia
xxx
To the 258 who disliked this…..what a shame. Such a shame.
Jessi, please accept my heartfelt understanding of your predicament and the
trials you have undergone. I have wrecked more times than I care to admit
on two wheels and on four. We could swap horror stories. I so get your pain
and my heart really goes out to you. No matter how bad things get, or what
pain you’re going through, remember this:
You’re stronger than this. You can make it. And you are never alone. Yes,
you may have to comprimise on one or two things, but someone as strong and
competitive as you already achieved those past glories. You will climb. You
will ride. You will fight.
When my leg cast came off, pins/rods/metal be damned, I got on my
motorcycle and rode. The old cliche of getting back on the horse is so
true. You have to get back on. Life will beat you down. It will test you.
It sometimes shakes your very core. But if your heat beats, and you have
the will, you will succeed. I believe in you, and I know you can.
You carry my youngest daughter’s name, and she is the light of my life. I
will tell her of your courage, and it will now stand as an example of what
“Jessi” truly means. Thank you for that.
Much love and respect.
Can’t believe I just found what happened to +Jessi Lang
Feel bad for not knowing the reason of her absence on the Motor trend
channel, to be honest, I thought she had been fired or something. I
remember complaining on several occasions on my comments, but men…I was
so off.
Coming out of a motorcycle accident with no near close resemblances with
the nature of her lesions; I salute Jessi and hope the best for her; on the
journey of rehabilitation.
Wow incredible literally brought me to tears when u got back to seat time
in the camaro. Just knowing how u must have felt to hear that engine turn
over and that roar!! I know that ROAR!! Must have been surreal after
everything uou went thru leading up to that moment. I comend you for
getting back in the car and following your dreams and the determination you
have not letting ANYTHING STOP YOU! from what you LOVE!! and I thank you
for sharing this truly life altering event. What doesn’t kill us makes us
stronger! You Truly Are An Amazing Women!!!
After reading what I can find online, (and getting a “404” when I tried to
read the original German press story,) I have a few questions, like for
instance: Why did the other driver move into the fast lane? Was there
another car in front of him that he wanted to pass? Or was he just a
bonehead? Did he check his mirror? If so, did he not see another vehicle
approaching at speed? I don’t expect any answers, considering we don’t know
anything about the other driver. People don’t pay attention, they aren’t
mindful of their surroundings. They don’t check their mirrors before they
change lanes, (or they see you coming and cut you off anyway, just to be a
dick…) they don’t use turn signals, they speed up to pass you and then
cut over six inches off your front bumper and hit their brakes, and when
you cuss them out they look at you with this “Duh?” expression on their
face… They pull out right in front of you, cut you off, swerve into your
lane, and then beep at you as though you did something to them. I’m
thinking this other driver was distracted, or preoccupied, or? Texting,
maybe?
You weren’t alone, your dog was there by your side.
Glad you’re doing okay.
Forget every “Big Balls” comment on youtube. She has biggest ones
Wow +Jessi Lang I have so much respect for you. It was so hard watching
this video. It’s great to see that you are back to doing what you love. I
wish you a smooth recovery throughout the years and I hope you will be able
to regain as much as you can. I will always be supporting your videos. Keep
it up!
Pretty moving story. Yeah, I’d have been terrified in that German
hospital, not knowing if you’re going to wake up with 2 legs, God only
knows what you’re signing, heh. Glad it worked out and you can continue
doing what you do, though.
You can tell she’s a journalist by all the extra words she uses.
Thank you for sharing! i know i’m like super late but its great to see you
doing what you love again! and thanks for reminding us that we cant take
anything for granted! cheers!
I’m very sorry you suffered so much from this accident. I really hope you
get well and can keep living your dreams. I was once hit from behind and
had to go through whiplash surgery and rehabilitation period so I know some
of your pain even as mine was not as severe as yours.
On my visits to Germany I have done some driving on Autobahns and
unfortunately it’s never as imagined when people from other countries come
to germany and try the Autobahns. One learns after a while that it’s very
dangerous with such high speeds and to have much bigger safety margins, for
example to slow down on overtake on Autobahns with few lanes. Or when
driving at very high speeds to have one free lane between yourself when
overtaking much slower traffic.
I can understand why you think all blame is with the other driver. But you
have to remember many cars on German Autobahns are from neighboring
countries with little experience from very high speeds, or how fast a car
can catch you at those speeds. To overtake another car at 3 times their
speed without the safety of a free lane inbetween is to ask for trouble.
Specialty during summer months you see a lot of tourists crossing Germany
and see a lot of incidents with people crossing over to left and forcing a
very fast Porsche, BMW or Mercedes standing on the brakes.
Next time please leave a bigger margine and enjoy the high speeds of
Autobahns safely. As others have already mentioned it would have been nice
if you had mentioned how the others fared in this accident, your co driver
and the driver of the other car. Get well and drive safe.
you are one TOUGH girl!!!!!! and for that, i bid the utmost respect for
you!!! i really admire the fact that after you recovered from that crash
you got back in a car!!!!! this has brought tears to my eyes, ONE OF THE
BRAVEST PEOPLE AND STRONGEST THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!! keep up that
toughness!!!!
Cant believe I just saw this. Much love and good luck Jessi
police respawn literally srs
+Jessi Lang That made me cry Jessie, hearing your story. I’m glad your
recovering, and that your okay. Not that it’s the same but I had sprained
my ankle, level 2 category and was in crutches for 5 months. It sucks, and
makes you want to give up. How going to the kitchen is hard, or getting
dressed in bed. That was a while ago, and I’m sure your driving your Subaru
now! My prayers go out to you, your passenger and the people in the other
vehicle. Keep it up on MotorTrend, your doing a terrific job on the J-turn.
People saying she was being unsafe have never lived and driven in Germany.
Going slow on the unrestricted parts of the Autobahn is MUCH more dangerous
than going moderately fast. When the accepted flow of traffic is 85-110
mph, the people going 50 are the real danger. There are B-roads alongside
almost every major autobahn. Slower traffic needs to stick to those.
Jessi,
I am terribly sorry to hear about this, my heart goes out to you….I just
came from your Hawaii Ferrari FF vid and this is devastating!
My brother died (three years old) and my mother broke every limb, pelvis
and neck on her body in 1993 in a horrifying car crash. My mother and
brother were in a Toyota Mr2 and it hydroplaned crashing into incoming
traffic on the highway. My brother died on impact and my mom endure two
years of physical therapy just to move her arms…she had metal rods
sticking out of almost every part of her body…we would jokingly and
lovingly call her robo mom 🙂
the doctors told her she would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of her
life.
Today, she walks better than I do!
Hang in there, don’t ever give up and live your dreams Jessi!
You will make it through, and we will enjoy thousand more vids until you
are old and gray 🙂
Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery,
HP
While none of us but those on scene know what really happened, and
therefore making any speculation on what actually happened nothing short of
moot, it’s worth noting that a number of commentators seem unable to grasp
a few things. 1. This didn’t happen on the Autobahn. 2. Even if it DID,
people seem to correlate that to an excuse to drive as fast as one desires.
What you lot seem to not understand is that, while there’s no speed limit,
there are still laws that regulate driver safety. In short, if you drive
like an idiot, it’s quite likely you’ll be cited for said idiocy.
I got chills when I realized that this could have happened to me. I fish
tailed out of a curve and just missed a telephone pole and hitting my
mirror. I have a great deal of respect for you and wish you a quick and
full recovery.
+Jessi Lang
Dear Jessi
This is the first time I have heard of you.. I really didn’t knew who you
are and what do you do for living untill it cleared to me during this
video.. but still you won over my respect during this video. It’s rare to
see such passion to cars.. to driving, to all that is related to it. Now I
just love your passion and I envy you since there is no possibility for me
to do what you do for living. But I’m happy to see that you are really
somebody that is enjoying every second of your work.
I know how devastating is to be involved in a car crash… I had T-bone
crash.. a minor one though, and I was the one to blaim (just observation
mistake.. drove in front on somebody). We both got away with it with
bruises.. but that feeling when you got out of the car and saw another
person’s car with front end smashed to bits and driver leaning against the
steering wheel not moving…. That one second I thought he is dead… That
feeling is horrible… We were both just happy to be alive. He just joked
how he just bought the car same day as the accident happened. He clearly
saw how bad I felt about all that..
All the best luck in the world to you for now on. I hope you can “heal” to
such point that you feel capable to same things you were before the
accident. God’s bless and may your highspeed career be filled with guardian
angels 🙂
PS. You clearly are one tough woman! Not many can recover out of something
like that!
wow that’s a incredible story you survived and still have enough motivation
to keep on and was able to get back in the car almost had tears in my eyes
im so glad you survived it greats that we still have you apart of the car
community +Jessi Lang
I’m so sorry for what happened in Germany. I could’ve only imagine how much
pain you had. The surgery must have been a living hell. Hopefully you will
have a good recovery!
10.37 is when the tears started for me. What an incredible incredible
person Jessi is. I’d sit down and talk cars with this girl for hours. To be
able to get back into a car, any car, after having gone through that speaks
volumes to your courage and bravery. That was a powerful video. I wish you
well in the rest of your recovery.
who was legally responsable at the end?
Wishing you all the best from Vancouver Island here in BC, Canada. GLAD
you’re able to get out there and shred some rubber! ROCK ON!
someone close to my family was killed i a very high speed single car
accident whilst avoiding slower (legal speed ) traffic you will never
forget but the shock and mental pain gets easier i always think of him as i
drive on that bit of road every week. I presume Jessi was on an
unrestricted road but things happen you only have to watch 1 dash cam
compilation to know that . I hope all concerned in this accident continue
to heal both in body and mind . thank you for telling your story
Get well soon Jessi! Given the fact that it was such a heavy accident, you
can consider yourself lucky that you got out of it in one piece and can
move everything. Anyways, keep training. Set your mind right and the body
will follow. It’s all about endurace!
In fact, the accident did not happen on the german autobahn but on the
german bundesstrasse “B2”. The B2 is similar to an Autobahn in the way its
build and got 2 lanes in each direction. The “recommended speed” on a
Bundesstrasse with 2 lanes is 130km per hour (80mph !!!). Although you’re
allowed to drive as fast as you want, I think Jessi was way to fast while
overtaking. Thanks to the R8s construction everybody survived. Almost
nobody is expecting a car overtaking with like almost three times the speed
(she mentioned the cars speed was like a third of the R8s) on a
Bundesstrasse. I believe they just werent aware of the traffic on that part
of the B2 so i dont blame her for doing so. For all foreigners coming to
germany for “racing” the Autobahn: Just over 50% of the Autobahn are not
limited! the other 50% are limited to (mostly) 130 km/h or 80mph. Photo of
the R8 in german press:
http://www.frankenfernsehen.tv/zwei-schwerverletze-bei-verkehrsunfall-auf-der-b2-26436/#.VCQrDBZSjPw
As I skip my fat ass around the shop tonight on two fully functional pins,
I am aware that more than likely you’ll just want to strangle me for any
“glad you’re recovering / I feel your pain / could have been worse / get
well soon” sentiments, fair enough. Much like a broken heart, there’s
nothing anybody can ever say that … actually relieves the pain or anguish
at that moment. However, this WILL pass, and you will regain control of
your life again – this – eventually becoming the piece of history that
compelled you to get that broken con rod ankle tat.
And yes, feel better soon.
I realize you probably won’t read the 2501st comment, but it takes a lot to
put such a personal story out there. I’m sorry for all that anguish, and I
hope for you a full recovery. It is a sad story… but fortunately for us,
the viewers, you are giving it a happy ending.
Yeah, it’s pretty amazing what they can do with modern medical procedures.
I had a friend in post secondary who went through the window of his GMC
Sonoma, and into the ditch off of the highway. They reconstructed his face,
and fixed his broken bones, to the point where when I knew him, he only had
some facial scarring that you could tell of it. I’m sure you’ll be A-OK
soon enough.
+Jessi Lang – I hope your recovery is still going well. I too had a bad
crash on a motorbike in 2009, although my injuries were nothing like your i
spent a few months not able to walk and then a lot of time after that in
rehab getting used to using my foot again.
Time is a great healer, I was able to enter kickboxing competitions within
a year of my accident (although i avoided using my damaged leg). Keep
strong, follow the rehab instructions and fight on and i’m sure you will be
able to do everything you love again.
Great video and a lot of respect for you.
This is the kind of stuff that moves me. It’s a sort of hard hitting real
life story, and although not everybody can get in a car crash in a
supercar, it’s still very easy to become injured in such a brutal fashion,
and as Jessi has shown, it is also entirely survivable.
Glad you’re OK. This video was hard to watch. Was it sponsored by Subaru?
Just read about your accident . I am so sorry . We miss you .Come back soon
. tim from la luz nm 88337
Best of luck with your recovery! I also have been involved in a high speed
accident, but was lucky enough to only sustain minor injuries (mainly
broken ribs and shoulder problems) im confident that after watching this
video you will make a fantastic recovery, im excited to see your future
videos 😉 best of luck!
You were lucky that germany is very efficent :)
Truly inspirational. I don’t know what else to say