In Brevard County, Florida, an accident that nearly claimed the life of Jenny Hortman, a dedicated spaceflight photographer, has led to a lengthy and challenging journey toward recovery. Emergency responders spent almost an hour extricating her from the wreckage of her severely damaged car. Now, four years and 18 surgeries later, Hortman is finally approaching the conclusion of her arduous rehabilitation process.

The accident occurred as Hortman was traveling along State Road 407 en route to capture a rocket launch, a routine task for her. A U-Haul truck collided with her vehicle, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.

“Life is incredibly fragile, and coming so close to losing it was immensely challenging,” Hortman reflected.

The aftermath of the crash left Hortman with a daunting list of injuries. She suffered multiple fractures in both legs, significant damage to one foot, several broken ribs, facial trauma on the left side, collapsed lungs, and a ruptured spleen.

“I ended up with fractures nearly everywhere in my legs, one of my feet, several ribs, along with damage to the left side of my face, collapsed lungs, and a ruptured spleen,” she recounted.

Hortman was airlifted to Orlando Health, where orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Frank Abulucia took over her care.

“She had both limbs severely injured… bone loss… I knew this would not be a single surgery. This would be multiple procedures,” Abulucia said.

Over the next several years, Hortman underwent 18 surgeries and had to relearn how to walk several times.

“I had to relearn how to walk around three to four times… there were a lot of setbacks,” she said.

Today, doctors say her reconstructed bones are healing exactly as hoped.

“You can see where the bone has been completely reconstructed… and it’s entirely united,” Abulucia said.

But even as her physical injuries mend, the emotional scars linger. Hortman said she no longer drives on State Road 407 — especially at night.

“I don’t go near that road anymore… I avoid two-lane roads, especially at night. Even if my route is an hour longer, I’ll do that because it’s safer,” she said.

Despite the trauma, Hortman is back doing what she loves: photographing rocket launches along Florida’s Space Coast — grateful for the recovery that gave her that chance.

“Not only did he fix my legs and give me the ability to walk and stand again… he gave me my life back,” she said.

News 6 has requested crash data from the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida’s Turnpike, including whether any lighting or safety improvements have been made along State Road 407 since the 2021 crash. That information will be reported when it becomes available