The tragic death of Lillian Mae Curtis
ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY: Lilian Mae Curtis, 72, died after a Denny's signboard fell on her car. The grandmother from Kentucky was returning from the hospital after picking up her husband after heart surgery. The tragedy occurred when her husband Lloyd Eugene Curtis Sr, 77, and their daughter Mary Graham, 58, stopped for food on Thursday, January 19, 2023. It was a 2,600lb sign that fell on the car amid 50 mph gusts in Elizabethtown.
According to KVUE, both Lloyd and Mary were also injured during the accident. Though Lillian was rushed to the UofL Hospital, the neurosurgeons stated that she had a "catastrophic head injury" and was "inoperable", her family said.
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Lillian and Lloyd's granddaughter and Graham's daughter Mary Howard said, "The doctors said that it was absolutely instantaneous and that there was no way her body could have felt any pain." Meanwhile, Graham has a serious injury and broke five ribs and also had a concussion. She is currently being treated at UofL Hospital and Lloyd is back in the hospital for treatment. Howard also said, "It's definitely not something you can truly wrap your mind around, I don't know that the shock has worn off - or the fact that we're going to go home and life is going to continue without her," according to Daily Mail.
The couple had been married for fifty years. Howard continued, "She'd hurt your feelings and then she'd compliment you. She wouldn't care to kick you in the hind and then give you a pep talk afterwards. She was one of a kind."
Lilian's granddaughter Amy Nichols stated, "This woman right here my beautiful nanny Lillian Mae Curtis was the matriarch of our family she was the strongest woman I have ever seen in my life. I don't know how myself or my family can even begin to live in a cold world without her in it. She was my biggest supporter in life and always had me when nobody else did. I am so lost right now I can't even function. She was my Nanny, she was my second momma, she was everything to me. I would give my life to have her back. I love you so much nanny. I just want to hug you again and smell your cologne and tell you I love you. How do I say goodbye to you I wish it would of been me in that backseat not you. I just want you back."
Elizabethtown Police spokesman Chris Denham told Daily Mail, "I've never seen anything like this. It's certainly very windy out here and I'm certain that did have a factor and was involved in this."
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been started by Amy to meet the funeral expenses. The campaign note reads, "I lost my Grandmother today to due an accident in Elizabethtown KY when Denny's sigh fell onto her car while in it on their way back from picking my grandfather up from the hospital in Louisville due to him having heart surgery 3 days ago. I am asking for help for the memorial service and to get me to KY to be with my family cause I live over 2000 miles away. Please keep my family in your prayers for this is a very difficult time for all of us."
Further, it read, "My nanny was loved by so many people and this loss has left a hole inside us all. Anything helps and is greatly appreciated. Anyone can Google the accident it is all over the news for reference."
"Denny's is aware of the incident that took place at our Elizabethtown location on Thursday. Safety is our top priority, and we are working with the authorities to better understand what led to this situation. Our thoughts are with all of those involved," stated a Denny's spokesperson.