EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
A motorcycle accident on Saturday has forever changed the lives of a young couple, and their families. A short ride turned into a long trip to the hospital, and it has left investigators wondering who is to blame.
On Saturday night, Jessica Whetstine and her boyfriend, Tyler Norrenbrock got on a motorcycle for what was supposed to be a quick 10 minute ride from Tyler's parents house to Jessie's.
They never made it to their destination that night.
"I've been telling people that Jessie casts a magic spell on anyone she meets. But I've learned I think that Jessie, she doesn't cast a spell, she is magic," said Jessie's father, Chris Whetstine.
Jessie Whetstine works at St. Mary's Medical Center, primarily in labor and delivery.
But right now, instead of helping welcome new lives, the 21-year-old Memorial High School graduate is fighting for her own.
"The ambulance drivers have talked to us. They've explained that she was laying face down in the highway," Chris said.
Chris says the motorcycle his daughter and Tyler were riding crashed around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night.
"He was southbound on I-164. He crested the overpass at Morgan Avenue and to find a wooden pallet, I believe basically tumbling, flying at him sort of as if it had just come off of a vehicle," said Chris.
Tyler broke his collarbone and has scrapes and bruises but is alert.
Jessie remains unconscious with serious brain injuries.
But despite what happened, the Whetstine family has no anger, no hard feelings. They don't have any blame toward the other driver. They just have questions.
"We want to know. We want to know the story only because we want some answer or closure to this to this terrible situation," said Chris.
Evansville Police still don't know who was driving the vehicle carrying that wooden pallet, but they're hoping someone may recognize the marking on it or maybe a shipping label that was found at the scene.
In the meantime, Jessie and Tyler's families continue to pray and believe.
"We're extremely confident that she's going to wake up and her magic is going to still be there," said Chris.
Jessie's family says they hope this can help remind people how important it is to secure their loads and make sure they are tied down.
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Tyler Norrenbrock and Jessica Whetstine.
Pallet that was involved in motorcycle accident on I-164. Source: Evansville Police
