Rock Hill Teen Talks About Surviving Crash That Killed Her Best Friend

A Rock Hill teen who survived a head-on crash with a man accused of drunken driving is mourning the loss of her best friend after that wreck and speaking out about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Amanda Trader, 16, was released from the hospital on Tuesday. Her friend Kimberly Hobbs, also 16, was taken off life support one week ago.

Trader says she remember every detail of the crash.

“She goes, ’Amanda, look,’ and he swerved into my lane and I swerved into his to avoid him, and he swerved back and hit us head-on. And I never heard Kimberly say another word after that,” she said.

Trader was propped up by pillows and fighting intense pain as she spoke.

“I looked at Kim and she had blood coming from her mouth. She looked so helpless,” Trader said through tears.

Trader was driving Hobbs to her grandmother’s house the afternoon of Nov. 28 when police say 49-year-old William Brown was driving under the influence and rammed into the girls’ car.

“I remember the impact knocked my breath away,” Trader said.

The crash shattered her knee cap, broke four ribs and lacerated a lung and her liver. But the pain from her injuries is no match for her heartache, and the anger she feels toward Brown.

“I’d let him know he took a big part from me,” she said.

Although Trader is a typical teen who loves trips to the mall, when she’s finally able to walk her first outing will be to Hobbs’ grave.

“I didn’t go to the funeral,” she said. “I didn’t get to say my last goodbyes.”

Trader has months of physical therapy ahead of her but she hopes to be back in school after winter break.

Brown remains in jail awaiting trial.

RELATED STORY: 1 Teen Dead, 1 Injured After Rock Hill Crash Caused By Man Accused Of Drunken Driving