Josephine Co., Ore. — A former Josephine County track star is in critical condition, following a serious car crash on Tuesday. It happened just down the road from her home in Hugo. Lisa Mazzola is fighting for her life in Eugen, and her husband Frank is seeking support, hoping the community will rally around her.
“She was an expert, I mean, Olympic class runner, when I first met her, I was blown away,” Mazzola said. “She was a fast little, fast girl, when she ran, it was like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Mazzola first met his wife Lisa Reed in 1986, just five years after she graduated from North Valley High School. As the anchor on her track team, Lisa was one of the best, and a star in Josephine county.
Now Lisa is in critical condition, following a serious car crash Tuesday morning, just a quarter mile from her house.
“I came down the driveway and saw the activity down there, and went up to look to see what was going on,” Mazzola said. “They were cutting the roof off the car to get her out, and one of the sheriff’s, or officers realized I was her husband, I’d realized it was her car, and he said, ‘she’s alive.'”
Lisa crashed into a tree on Jump Off Joe Creek road in Hugo, trapping her inside the car. She broke both arms, legs, hips, and four ribs in the crash.
“I followed them to the emergency room, and held her hand, and told her to fight, be strong.”
Lisa was flown to Peacehealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, and has already undergone one surgery.
“Listen to the doctors, they will, they knew what to do, because she can be a little stubborn sometimes.”
Frank is hoping her stubborn nature, and the community’s support, will help her pull through.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.