‘Unbearable Pain’: Tulsa Mother’s Back Broken After Being Hit By Suspected Drunk Driver

A Tulsa woman is thankful to be alive after she said a drunk driver slammed into her car from behind. 

Heather Shepard is in unbearable pain and has a broken back and broken ribs. The other driver didn’t have insurance, and now she doesn't have a way to get to work or get her kids to school. 

“I went back to the hospital last night because the pain is just unbearable,” Shepard said.

Shepard said she was driving home from work when someone slammed into the back of her car. 

"After I flipped the first time, I was just praying that it would flip again so I didn't end up upside down," she said. 

Police said Hersi Ayala was driving drunk when she hit Shepard’s car. Police say she had her eight-year-old son in the car, and later admitted to having several beers, driving without a license, and having no insurance. 

"Oh man, if I would have had one of my kids in the car, they would have been dead for sure. I don't even know how I got out of it, I flipped my car three times," Shepard said. 

Shepard said she is in so much pain and can't even get up to go to the bathroom without help. She said her car is totaled and she's worried about the future. 

"It's not even begun to see the struggle for me yet. My bills are already starting to stack up, I can't get to work, my kids have to walk to a bus stop to get to school now," Shepard said. 

She said she is thankful the outcome wasn't worse but said this never should have happened. 

"Drinking and driving is not OK. You might think it's OK, but it's definitely not, you are putting not only yourself, but others in danger," she said. 

If you'd like to help Heather and her family, click here.