Miracle Revisited: A Crash Victim Speaks Out

February 11th Marked The Two-Year Anniversary

We all have seen a car broken down on the side of the road, but what would happen if you pulled over and provided aid?

Two years ago in February could have ended very differently for Justin Pfannes.

He was driving drunk, flew off a Duluth road and landed on some rocks near the shores of Lake Superior.

“There was a big rock I smashed into on the other side. The engine came through the firewall and kept me in the car.” Pfannes said.

Ken Greshowak, an avid wildlife photographer, woke up early Feb. 11 hoping to get some photos of a gray owl that had been spotted off the shore.

“So instead of doing my normal way and taking a right out of the drive way, I took a left out the drive way.” Greshowak said.

The different route led Ken to a completely different scene on the lake.

“I saw that the guardrail was damaged and ripped up.” Greshowak said. 

“I looked on the shore — there was a wrecked car. I heard someone in the car yelling help, help.” Ken said. 

The accident report says at the time of the crash Justin was traveling at speeds near 120 mph.  

“The car had flipped a bunch of times.” Ken said.

Realizing there was a person inside the wreck, Ken ran down the hillside to assist while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Justin briefly remembers Ken’s heroic act.

“With the injuries I suffered, I don’t really remember a lot of it.” Justin said.

As minutes dragged on waiting for medics, questions of faith emerged.

“And as soon as that sun hit the horizon he said I’m in Heaven aren’t I? I’m dead, right? No,  it’s just another beautiful sunrise. You’re looking at Wisconsin.” Ken said.

A few days into Justin’s hospital stay, he was able to thank the man who rescued him. 

Justin is now proud of his strengthen faith.

“God has a purpose for all us. Pray and seek out that purpose.” Justin said.

Feb. 11 brought together a humble photographer and a man who was searching for direction.

“It’s inspiring to know you have to help out when you see incident’s like that.

And often times when you see that kind of incident on the highway you think, oh, someone is going to stop. You just have to know that you have to pitch in and you want someone to do that same thing for you.” Ken said.