DETROIT – Doctor Cynthia Ray was trying to help six teens who were in a rolled over Jeep Sunday morning on eastbound I-96 in Detroit when she was struck by another vehicle.
The 47-year-old Henry Ford Hospital pulmonologist suffered a severe head injury and underwent neurosurgery at Sinai-Grace Hospital. She was in critical condition for days before she died about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night.
Ray was one of three people hurt in the crash on eastbound I-96. She and 17-year-old Sean English, a junior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, got out of their vehicles to help crash victims when another driver lost control and hit them. That driver is a 17-year-old boy who remains in critical condition.
The teen driver was unresponsive after the crash and had to be cut from this vehicle with the Jaws of Life. He remains in critical condition. His family said he suffered swelling of the brain and a fracture in his vertebrae.
Here's a statement from the teen driver's family:
"First and foremost, our family is asking for prayers for all the victims and their families who were involved in the horrific accident. We would also like to thank those involved in the accident who went above and beyond their duties to save lives. The family would like to clarify and provide an update on our family member's condition. The 17-year-old son was on his way to work Sunday morning. He was not intoxicated which was proven by the toxicology reports which was given to us by the hospital. He is currently in critical condition and suffers with two brain bleeds and swelling of the brain along with a fracture in his vertebrae. As you can imagine, this is devastating to all the victims and their families. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts as we continue through this process."
The family said the toxicology report was shown to them but the hospital didn't release it because "it's hospital policy to not release it until the driver is discharged."
Ray and English had stopped to help six teens inside a Jeep that had struck the median along eastbound I-96 near Fullerton and rolled over. English's parents also got out of the car to help, but they were not injured when another vehicle hit English and Ray.
English, a student athlete with success in cross country, had to have his foot amputated. Police said a state trooper may have saved his life by using a tourniquet to stop bleeding.
WATCH: Trooper describes how special training kicked in during I-96 crash chaos
Teens in Jeep OK
Meanwhile, the six teens who were inside the Jeep did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Their ages range from 14 to 19 years old. It's unclear what made the driver lose control on the Interstate and roll the SUV. State police said the Jeep was traveling in the left lane of eastbound I-96 when it struck the median wall, causing it to roll.
These crashes remain under investigation.
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