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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Crews work to contain sheen after Oregon train derailment ... Customers thwart attempted robbery at Medford convenience store ... Oregon's economy roaring at 'full throttle,' state economists say ... Crews work to contain sheen after Oregon train derailment ... Customers thwart attempted robbery at Medford convenience store ... Oregon's economy roaring at 'full throttle,' state economists say ... Ashland woman holds on to memories of boyfriend who died in crash Miraculously, Christine Diaz-Kuehu survived a horrific car crash in Ashland this month, but her boyfriend did not The last thing Christine Diaz-Kuehu remembers on April 9 is leaving a dinner date with her boyfriend and heading south through Ashland. By Teresa Ristow MailTribune.com By Teresa Ristow Posted Apr. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 30, 2014 at 2:30 AM By Teresa Ristow Posted Apr. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 30, 2014 at 2:30 AM How you can help --> Help Diaz-Kuehu with her medical bills by: Donating at Rogue Federal Credit Union Buying jewelry in Origami Owl's fundraiser at goo.gl/1U51AX » Read more X How you can help Help Diaz-Kuehu with her medical bills by: Donating at Rogue Federal Credit Union Buying jewelry in Origami Owl's fundraiser at goo.gl/1U51AX » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The last thing Christine Diaz-Kuehu remembers on April 9 is leaving a dinner date with her boyfriend and heading south through Ashland. Her next memory is waking up in the intensive care unit at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, her eyes swollen shut. Diaz-Kuehu, 36, was the passenger in a 2000 Mercedes SUV driven by Salvatore "Sal" Pippa III, when the couple's vehicle sped through a left-hand turn on Ashland Street, hit a power pole and smashed into the building that houses Papa Murphy's, Liberty Tax and other businesses. Pippa died at the scene and Diaz-Kuehu was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. "I'm very, very, very grateful to be alive," said Diaz-Kuehu, who broke her neck and pelvis, sprained her ankle and was cut by shards of glass. "I don't remember anything about the accident." High speed was believed to be a factor in the crash, which is still under investigation by the Ashland police. Police say Pippa was going much too fast to negotiate the turn, though they won't be able to determine his actual speed. "We're never going to know, except that they were going way too fast," said Ashland police Chief Terry Holderness. Holderness said that because the crash happened at night — at about 10:30 p.m. — and because Pippa was driving significantly in excess of a safe speed, a standard toxicology report for drugs and alcohol is being performed. Those results usually take a month to get back, Holderness said. Diaz-Kuehu said that police, nurses and doctors were amazed that she survived. "I believe there was an angel wrapped around me," said Diaz-Kuehu. "They don't know how I made it out of there." She remained in the ICU for three days and was in the hospital for nine more before her insurance cut out and doctors sent her home. Diaz-Kuehu said she isn't sure whether she should have been in the hospital longer, but she is happy to be home at her father's house in Medford while she recovers. "I'm so grateful to be home," said Diaz-Kuehu. "It's so much easier to heal in a place of comfort." Diaz-Kuehu is seeking donations to help with her medical bills, which already total $65,000. A makeshift memorial has formed at the site of the couple's crash, with cards, candles and flowers adorning the smashed area of the concrete building. One of the building's owners, Jim Batzer, said he has had an engineer assess the structure and estimate repairs, but Batzer plans to leave the memorial up for at least a few more weeks. "We want to honor the memorial, so we're giving it some time," said Batzer. "It needs to get fixed at some point, but I'm not going to authorize any movement until the community has grieved." Diaz-Kuehu said she is holding onto her memories of Pippa, including a sentimental voice mail he had left her earlier on the day of the crash. He had called Diaz-Kuehu while she was at work as manager of Ashland's Growing Green Baby and sang and played guitar on her voice mail — singing the couple's song, "Pale Moonlight," by Bob Marley. By Teresa Ristow MailTribune.com By Teresa Ristow Posted Apr. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 30, 2014 at 2:30 AM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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