Exclusive: Janae Edmondson, Tennessee teen who lost her legs in a downtown crash, speaks out

Janae Edmondson, the Tennessee volleyball player who had both of legs severed in a February 2023 crash in downtown St. Louis, talked exclusively with 5 On Your Side reporter Christine Byers. Janae, who was joined by her parents, James and Francine Edmondson, discussed life since the crash and the guilty verdict in the trial of the man who caused it.
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[@marvinshenk]

Man it's hard to see the damage this guy did to that young girl.

[@Hunee-]

Utterly heartbreaking.

[@patriciasimpson7020]

'Guy' the little punk was like 19 yrs of age when he did this.

[@AseAleisha]

​@@patriciasimpson7020 so what

[@badgalkia10]

Extremely!!!! It’s just not fair 😣

[@iamtheonlywilly]

Armed robbery? If he was in jail that girl would have her legs! Prayers up for her and her family!

[@reannfrantz9102]

That ex-state's attorney Kim Gardner ought to be imprisoned...he violated over 100 times and just kept getting more and more out of control. Wow, she gets to just resign while Janae has to serve a life sentence without legs.

[@esmemohabir6891]

⁠@@reannfrantz9102very heartbreaking for this poor child who has to live forever in this cruel uncomfortable situation prayers up for YOU DARLING 🙏🏼❤️🌷God will always send angels in your path to help you . Blessings in your path as you go along life’s journey 🌹♥️

[@reannfrantz9102]

@@esmemohabir6891 yes, so heartbreaking. I am inspired and moved by the faith she and her family have though. Prayers up, I join u.

[@AseAleisha]

Exactly

[@Sharonx54]

Stay strong my girl. My daughter lost her leg after 4 surgeries. She is now up walking with her prostatic. She has been thru a lot as u. But it does get better I PROMISE

[@theinsightfulvisionary0197]

I think you meant prosthetic; not prostatic!!!

[@LilyRoberts561]

She is so beautiful and strong!❤

[@Joseph-i1t]

It’s it’s so ironic. 2 mixed Race family. Mothers are White. Fathers are Black. Son on one side. Daughter on the other . Beautiful young lady. Very Strong. Brave. Courageous . Determine. God it’s tough to be dressing and re-dressing her own wounds.

[@jeffcombs2950]

No charges for armed robbery? I once did a night in jail, was fined and had to take substance abuse classes because I pissed behind a bush in college at 2am. I almost got kicked out. Fuck everything.

[@MistymeQueen]

Janae's life expectancy probably is 85 years old. That's 69 years of pain and torture. Give her 69 million dollars, a million for each year she has to suffer... UGH !! People, act responsible. GEEZE.

[@missf4681]

May God bless and keep this beautiful young woman. May she have a full filling and good life despite this severe set back. She has a wonderful family and i wish her every happiness ❤❤❤

[@booknerd4317]

Just like Janae said, God’s path and purpose for you is much bigger than we know here on earth. She will do great things and she is already spreading awareness and making changes with laws- a very strong, beautiful woman. God bless you.

[@reannfrantz9102]

Thank u for sharing your faith, Janae, and family!!!

[@lovingmayberry307]

Stay strong, Janae. We stand with you. ❤

[@khina3061]

I really don't know how to feel about this comment man

[@devlinadams4166]

That damn good for NOTHING mayor should be impeached and thrown out of office ASAP!!!!!!!! And this is a fine example of why people don't vote & don't trust their elected officials

[@brownsugar3126]

Shame on this prosecutor, time to change these laws.. Stop pled deals with these crimes.. Stop letting people off the hook commit more serious crimes .. Praying for you, young lady 🙏🏽💜

[@yvettecleveland2757]

❤so sorry this happened to this beautuful young woman. Keeping her & family in my prayers.

[@70muffin1]

Prayers to her😢🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@kevinbarry3548]

What a beautiful family. Prayers to you all.

[@meri9214]

This is so sad...😲

[@Thecoolesttdy]

Girl you are so beautiful. Praying for you❤

[@skatebug6115]

In prayer for the young lady and her family🙏

[@ClariseBrooks]

What she said at the end shows her strength. A teenager who was doing everything right...two dedicated parents. This is so unfair. I am so sorry to see what that guy did to her. I pray for continued strength to her and her family.

[@AnnieBowie]

God bless the family

[@jasminebaby3375]

Two years is not enough!!

[@marymorris6897]

He'll be sentenced in April. Let's hope the judge is tough!

[@RLFinTX]

2 years?? I thought she said 20!

[@cgcporsiempre5330]

They said the jury recommended almost 20 years not 2. The judge will decide the sentence in April.

[@bobbriggs9748]

Take his legs to make it fair. When you have a child that gets rope hair, you know it's going to end up in jail. They get rope hair so the prison boyfriend got something to hold on to.

[@shaylaster1607]

Wow- this man should have been in jail/ not in a car

[@pipandlou]

What a beatiful girl! 💖🙏🇺🇸

[@Pottymaker]

These big cities becoming more and more decriminalized makes me sick. This thug should have been in jail already, which would have prevented this accident and prevented this young lady from losing her legs.

[@badgalkia10]

My heart hurts so much for this girl. This is just tough to watch 😣 Sometimes life just isn’t fair!!!!

[@TeeNicole10]

PRAYERS TO JANAE💜🙌🏼MAY GOD KEEP HIS HANDS ON HER💕🙏🏽🫶🏼

[@laurazuvich]

This is so sad. When she said at the end of the day he has legs and I do not. Breaks my heart 😢

[@hekeepsblessingme1312]

The major expresses her deepest sympatheties to the family? Really? Is that why you and other city officials were deceptive enough to quickly change the yield sig to a stop in an attempt to stop the lawsuit? Is that why you never reached out to the you lady or her family? Lol You are a piece of work! You!

[@ClimbingUpThisLife]

Janae, you are so beautiful. I can see determination in your eyes. God will do for you and through you what no one else can. Praying for you and for justice to be served. 🙏

[@reannfrantz9102]

That ex-state's attorney Kim Gardner ought to be imprisoned...he violated over 100 times and just kept getting more and more out of control. Wow, she gets to just resign while Janae has to serve a life sentence without legs.

[@evianamorales]

This is so heartbreaking. 💔😢 My heart goes out to Janae and her family. ❤

[@jeetpatel6087]

He should be charged with a 100 lashes a month

[@Ibimpjexoxo]

You’re a sick person.

[@laurenleclaire9512]

I do not think the ex attorney should even get her nursing license. She is a fraud and a horrible person.

[@bipolargamechanger]

So sorry that criminals are put before our brightest lights. Best wishes ❤

[@chuyrod3470]

Bless your heart ♥ God bless you always my prayers will be with you amen

[@kennethrosario6706]

God bless her

[@SonyaHilton-i4b]

She is doing a amazing job with all the trams she’s going through

[@FaizahRebuck-f3d]

Thank God ur alive❤

[@marisolababneh5707]

20 years only 😢😢😢😢

[@honeyowen3163]

I'm empathetic and can't understand why this news channel and even in court she's encouraged to put her injuries on display. People don't wear shorts in a courtroom and I think she's being taken advantage of for shock value and ratings. She doesn't really want attention for this tragedy, right? Right?

[@Edwardsjm]

You're an idiot

[@lettiegrant9447]

They wanted to show the jury the severity of the accident. And that’s a good thing that they did. 👍

[@cescalyons]

That's a bit too much. There's other ways to hide this young lady injury. Know way i would agree to that... 😢

[@lisaglass7633]

That family needs to personally sue Kim Gardner & ruin her financially. Then she needs to sue the Missouri Democrat Party for the damages, since it was their policies that did this to her too.

[@Thebeaminurowneyes]

Life. Unaware. Greatly Hard!!!! I had dreadlocks in my hair 30 years. I then went to jail as l reported this guy on the job at ups ::::: They did him nothing. I ended up beating the guy. They cut my hair in jail. I really would actually wanted to die instead of this happening. I grew dreadlocks out of despair and grief after someone tried robbing me and they shot me up like a dog.😢 Janae losing her legs is totally worst than my situation. I was beyond happy with my dreadlocks as l found so much peace in positive music like Bob Marley , Great Strength. I'm not fooled though for Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Nothings worth your life, Hair, Material Clothing etc. I love people and don't like to see them hurt. I would give mylife for Janae to have her legs back. God Help us in Jesus Name!!!! The world cruel and full of Hardships. 🙏🏼

[@juanadeltoro3518]

I cant believe that happened to you guy's we all want real JUSTICE i wonder if u guy's could take it to the next level upper off that judge my biggest deepest prayers

[@LisaDawnn]

Hadn't heard of this case. How horrific. But that young lady is absolutely stunning. From her heart right on through to her face!! Someone has to discover her and make her into a multimillionaire model. Just gorgeous. Her face is perfect. Hopefully, prosthetics will come with state-of-the-art technology down the road. I'm saddened to hear of this but blown away by how beautiful she is. Godspeed.

[@jljohnson3740]

Prayers to you and your family. You are so right....God has a plan.

[@nicolehayse]

Honey you know that you may never walk again I can tell you I am a double amputee

[@laundromat003]

She is gorgeoussss

[@lauren-qb9cf]

This reminds me of an Animated Story about a one legged ballerina.

[@georgina4874]

😢😢

[@shel62972]

I hurt when I saw this. I have a prosthetic leg not taken so violently though. It is the worse pain imaginable. Then theres the healing, using prosthetics and getting fitted. Its a long road for her. In no way is it the end she will be able to do extremely well. She is an athlete that will help her alot. I wish her well. Dont agree with them suing, if you want to fight for a stop sign to help future people or rally for tougher laws that is commenable. Getting money fotyourself to me is wrong. Plus its going to take all her negative energy she has and I get she is mad, she will just be fighting against people for a long time. Be greatful for your life and be happy. That is the best medicine.

[@laurazuvich]

They need all the money they can get. If there's no dollar sign there's not much to fight for. This is what she has to deal with for ever. It doesn't really get better.😢

[@Justshorts3249]

🙏🏼🙏🏼😔

[@Networkhair]

💙

[@ree3262]

😢😢

[@jajuanedmondson9001]

We have the same last name but I never met her🤔

[@judybraviere2715]

Circuit courts suck. 👎👎👎💙👎👎

[@JazzGultiano]

si ego ille qui damnum ita laesit, ego sum qui eam sanabo per vitam obligationis, mox uxorem ducam et laetam efficiam ut omnia quae feci, pulchra est. sic suus 'difficile non amare eam sic suus' ok

[@jay-t1030]

Man I can tell she was gonna be a lil baddie to…

[@nisiesworld.9889]

Well 😂