Ashley Wagner has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Ashley Wagner set out for the Hamilton train station on the morning of Feb. 23 like she'd done many times before on her commute from Hopewell Borough to a choice internship in New York City.
She was working at Hearst Publications and assigned to Oprah magazine. It was part of her studies at LIM College in Manhattan, where she was scheduled to graduate in May with a fashion degree.
This summer, the 23-year-old planned to realize her dream of becoming a fashion buyer, says boyfriend Harrison Steimle.
"She was almost done with everything," he said.
Ashley Wagner and Harrison Steimle on the day he graduated from the police academy in October 2016. (Family photo) Now it's all on hold as she recovers from severe head injuries caused by a sizable chunk of metal that flew off of a truck ahead of her on Interstate 295 in Lawrence that morning and crashed through her windshield - and into her head, Steimle said.
She's blind in her right eye, which does not even open, a piece of bone rests against her brain and, boyfriend said, her immediate future is now a calendar of rehabilitation sessions, doctor follow-ups and possibly more surgery.
Through all the terrifying and heartbreaking moments of the past two weeks. Steimle said he, Ashley and her mother Elaine Wagner see progress - and hope.
Wagner was released from the hospital Tuesday and cleared to start her recovery from home.
"She is strong and she never gave up on anything," Steimle said Wednesday as he fought back his emotions.
The couple has been dating for two years, and he spent all 13 days after the crash at her bedside. Each night, he prayed in the hospital chapel that she'd make it through brain and facial surgeries.
"I was just praying and hoping for the best and I was just grateful that she was alive," Steimle said.
He said there were several moments early on in which the news from doctors was bleak.
"I just thank God that she's still here with us," he said.
Now that he has time to look back, Steimle, a rookie police officer in Trenton, said he's even more impressed with the local policing community.
A former Plainsboro police dispatcher, Steimle was asleep when Wagner was injured after working the overnight shift. He received a call from a police officer friend, who was notified through Lawrence police, where Steimle's brother is an officer.
He's since learned that Lawrence officers were first on scene and their immediate first aid saved Wagner's life. "They controlled the bleeding, They did a phenomenal job."
As Steimle raced to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, he was getting updates from friend Eric Avalos, a Trenton officer who graduated from the police academy with Steimle this past October.
"Ashley saw Avalos and was comforted by that, a familiar face," Steimle said.
When Steimle arrived, Wagner was stabilized and doctors arranged for her to be transferred to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for high-level trauma care. They planned to fly her, but the weather was poor, so Steimle hopped into the back of the ambulance and they sped south.
"I cannot even put into words how I felt," he said. "It's hard to look back on."
The Trenton police have been more than supportive, he said, and his supervisors call him daily to see how he's doing, he said.
And the residents of Hopewell Borough have proved to be a giant family, Steimle said. "I've never seen so many people come to the house, send flowers, bring food."
"I just want to thank everyone for all the prayers," Steimle said. "We're at a loss for words for how supportive everyone's been."
Steimle started a GoFundMe page to aid Wagner in her recovery. It's raised over $22,000 as of Wednesday.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.