11-year-old Aubrey Bogacki, sole survivor of a car crash that killed three of her relatives last month, gives a thumbs-up from her hospital bed at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. Submitted photo
David Syka awoke at 2:30 a.m. July 20 to a phone call which brought the most harrowing news imaginable — three of his relatives were dead, and another — Syka’s niece, Aubrey Bogacki — was critically injured. Less than a month later, Syka is still processing the trauma of that moment.
“It was heart-wrenching,” Syka said. “It felt like somebody just punched me right in the gut. It hurt, it really did. It’s a feeling I hope I’ll never have to feel again.”
After the worst month the Bogacki family has ever experienced, some much-needed good news has finally arrived.
Aubrey, 11, the sole survivor of the automobile accident that left three other family members dead, is soon to be released from UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. She is recovering from multiple injuries, including a collapsed lung, a brain bleed, damage to her liver and spleen, a broken collarbone, clavicle, elbow, nose, orbital bone and other injuries.
The plan is for Aubrey to come home Thursday, Aug. 8, with friends and family lining the streets near Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls to welcome her.
Syka said the hospital gave Aubrey little chance of surviving after the crash. Less than a month later, she is walking under her own power in the hospital and even riding bikes with the physical therapy staff.
“This girl’s a fighter,” Syka said. “She’s a rock star in physical therapy.”
The accident happened just after midnight Saturday, July 20, when a 2019 Nissan Armada carrying the four Bogacki family members crossed the centerline when traveling south on Route 65 in Slippery Rock Township in Lawrence County. The vehicle struck two utility poles, a parked car, and some trees before it finally came to rest.
The driver of the SUV, 43-year-old Nathan Bogacki, was killed, along with 17-year-old Emma Bogacki and 13-year-old Grant Bogacki. Aubrey was entrapped in the crashed SUV, and emergency crews extricated her before airlifting her to the hospital.
Syka says that Aubrey has handled the circumstances remarkably well, although she is naturally grieving.
“She’s actually in good spirits,” Syka said. “Obviously she’s distraught at losing her loved ones, but she’s one of those kids that takes every day, day by day, and just tries to make the best of it.”
The Bogacki family — including Aubrey’s mother, Nicole, who was not in the car that night — are making preparations to welcome Aubrey home.
“We have to get her a hospital bed that Children’s Hospital is arranging for us,” Syka said. “She’ll have a wheelchair to help her get around the house. Everything’s on one floor, so there’s not going to be any steps for her or anything like that. Basically, we're going to just try to get her back to a normal childhood life.”
The accident has ripped a hole through the local youth sports community. Aubrey is a member of the Steel City Athletics 11 and under traveling softball team, while Emma played for the Silver Creek Colatriano softball team. Grant played baseball for Trumbull County Crew in Ohio.
“My wife and her sister Nicole played softball and basketball throughout high school,” Syka said. “Softball pretty much runs through the ladies’ side of the family.”
Syka’s last memory of the whole family was coming together to watch the kids play in a softball tournament, as Aubrey plays on the same team as David’s youngest daughter, Makinley.
“We were all there at the softball tournament, just hanging out and having a good time like family should,” Syka said.
Silver Creek was in the middle of a tournament when they received the news of Emma’s death, and promptly pulled out.
The local softball community responded overwhelmingly to the news of the tragedy with multiple fundraisers for the family, including a GoFundMe campaign which has raised $172,267 from its original goal of $30,000, as well as a benefit softball tournament to be held in South Beaver Township on Sept. 14-15.
In addition, there will be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser held at the Monaca Turners restaurant Sept. 8.
“Obviously it was a terrible incident,” Syka said. “They just reached out immediately.”
From left, Aubrey Bogacki, Emma Bogacki, and Makinley Syka. Aubrey is recovering at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh from injuries suffered in a car crash last month which killed Emma, their brother Grant, and their father Nathan. Submitted photo
From left, Emma, Nicole, Grant, and Aubrey Bogacki. Aubrey is recovering at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh from injuries suffered in a car crash last month which killed Emma, Grant, and their father, Nathan. Submitted photo
Aubrey Bogacki, left, poses with her mother Nicole on the softball field. Aubrey is recovering at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh from injuries suffered in a car crash last month. Submitted photo
Mother Nicole Bogacki, left, and aunt Natalie Syka, pose with Aubrey Bogacki, who is recovering at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh from injuries suffered in a car crash last month. Submitted photo
