Runner hit by car training for Gate River Run; Siri helps first responders contact her family

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thousands of runners will lace up their shoes for the annual Gate River Run on Saturday. But one woman won’t be running in it. She was hit by a car off Atlantic Boulevard while training for the run. She survived the accident, but she has a number of injuries.

“I looked a lot worse 10 days ago than I do today,” said Gail Alan, who continues to recover from an accident that she said could’ve killed her.

“I could’ve died on the road nine days ago, it’s a miracle I didn’t,” she said. “I can’t remember leaving for a run that morning."

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Alan was running down Atlantic Boulevard just before 10:30 a.m. when a car jumped a curb, smashed a light, and hit Alan.

“From the impact, more than likely he hit me first in my left side and shattered my humerus bone, which flung me across my chest,” she said.

Alan didn’t have any identification on her, making it difficult for first responders to reach her family. But they did find her cellphone. It wasn’t damaged, but it was locked. So they used Siri and they were able to reach her.

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“It wasn’t a great way for them to find out, but I’m glad they found out, and I just didn’t disappear and stay a Jane Doe,” she said.

According to Alan, police told her the driver was feeling under the weather.

“He wasn’t capable of driving,” Alan said.

According to a report by Dangerous By Design, Jacksonville ranks number four in the country for the most dangerous cities for pedestrians. With thousands of runners expected on the streets Saturday, Alan reminds everyone to be careful.

“Don’t put music in both ears, so you can hear things around you, and two, carry identification,” Alan says.

While she won’t be one of those runners, Alan is looking ahead.

“Just take it one day at a time,” Alan said.

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