A nursing student impaled through her stomach by a metal pole while driving on a California freeway survived three surgeries that removed parts of her colon, liver, and kidney, beating odds that doctors never specified but her rescuers described as overwhelming.
Story Snapshot
- Janina Akoravari was impaled by a pole that fell from a truck on Interstate 10 on August 25, 2025, with her younger brother in the backseat
- She pulled the car to safety with the pole dragging underneath, called 911, and survived three surgeries removing parts of three organs
- Nearly two months at Loma Linda University Medical Center resulted in $1 million in medical bills covered by insurance
- She lost a semester of nursing school and now avoids driving on the freeway where the accident occurred
- Her attorney is seeking witnesses to identify the truck owner responsible for the unsecured pole
The Moment Terror Struck on Interstate 10
Janina Akoravari was driving westbound on Interstate 10 near Southern California with her younger brother in the backseat when a metal pole detached from an unidentified truck ahead. The pole flew under her vehicle and impaled her through the stomach while she maintained control of the car. She forced the vehicle off the road as the pole dragged beneath, scraping pavement and potentially affecting other drivers. Her brother remained unharmed in the back. She called 911 while impaled, waiting for paramedics and firefighters to cut the pole and extricate her from the wreckage.
Three Surgeries and Months of Recovery
Emergency responders transported Akoravari to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where trauma surgeons performed three separate operations. The pole had damaged her colon, liver, and kidney severely enough that surgeons removed portions of all three organs. She spent nearly two months hospitalized, enduring a recovery process that medical teams considered exceptional given the severity of her injuries. The impalement penetrated her abdomen in a way that could have severed major blood vessels or caused fatal internal bleeding within minutes, yet she survived the initial trauma and subsequent surgical interventions.
The Hidden Costs of Freeway Debris
Akoravari’s medical bills totaled approximately $1 million, covered entirely by her health insurance. Her car was declared a total loss. She lost an entire semester of nursing studies and the income from her work during that period. The financial toll extends beyond immediate costs as she faces potential long-term health complications from organ loss and the psychological trauma of the incident. She now avoids Interstate 10 entirely, stating she feels terrified at the thought of driving that stretch of freeway again. The invisible cost includes her delayed entry into the nursing profession at a time when healthcare workers face critical shortages.
Unsecured Loads and the Search for Accountability
The truck driver who lost the pole remains unidentified months after the incident. Akoravari hired an attorney to track down witnesses who might have seen the pole fall or identify the commercial vehicle responsible. Interstate 10 carries heavy truck traffic through Southern California, and unsecured cargo represents a recurring hazard that has caused previous injuries and fatalities. California law requires proper cargo securement, but enforcement depends on identifying violators. Without witnesses or video evidence, holding the responsible party accountable becomes nearly impossible, leaving victims like Akoravari with life-altering injuries and no recourse beyond insurance claims.
A Nursing Student’s Perspective on Survival
Akoravari’s status as a nursing student adds a layer of awareness to her ordeal that most accident victims lack. She understood the gravity of her injuries while waiting for help, recognizing that abdominal impalement carries a high mortality rate. Her training likely helped her remain calm enough to pull over safely and call for help rather than panicking. She returned to public attention in February 2026, seven months after the accident, to appeal for witnesses and share her story. Her message emphasizes both gratitude for survival and frustration at the lack of accountability for whoever left an unsecured pole on their truck bed or flatbed trailer.
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The case underscores a simple principle: personal responsibility extends to securing cargo properly. Commercial drivers and private citizens who transport materials on public roadways bear responsibility for ensuring nothing falls off and becomes a projectile. Common sense dictates that a metal pole poses an obvious danger if left unsecured, yet someone drove onto Interstate 10 without taking basic precautions. The result nearly killed a young woman pursuing a career in healthcare while her younger brother watched helplessly from the backseat. Her survival represents both medical skill and remarkable fortune, but it should never have required either.
