Dear Subaru, I Walked Away

What happens when a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek slides off the road, flips three times, and hits a tree? Did the driver sustain life-threatening injuries? She should have but walked away instead. Here is Kenzi's incredible survival story. 

Dear Subaru, Thanks for saving my life.

That's what Kenzi wrote in a letter to Subaru of America after she had an accident in her 2014 Subaru Crosstrek. Here is Kenzi's remarkable story after sliding off a rain-soaked road, flipping three times, and hitting a tree. 

Kenzi says, "Little kids have dreams of being things. And mine was of becoming a Division 1 athlete. Like a lot of athletes, I have pre-race anxiety. What if I'm not good enough? What if I'm not fast enough? What if I forget how to swim? Especially in a sport where you get one chance to prove it all. You don't get a redo."

Meet Kenzi, a passionate swimmer from Shalimar, Florida. Her love for swimming is unparalleled, having been on a swim team since kindergarten. Her first car, the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, played a crucial role in her life, especially in her commitment to her sport.

"She's very determined, and I couldn't ask for a better daughter," Cyndi said.

Kenzi says, I drive about an hour to get to swim practice, and my first car was the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek. I knew they were supposed to be safe, but you never know until you're in an accident.

The day of the accident, I had woken up, and honestly, something told me not to go to swim practice. It was like, you should just sleep in.

It rained a lot before I got up, which is what I didn't realize. They had just recently paved that road, so it had oil pulled up at the top, making it very slick.

I ran off the road, and then my car started to flip. My car flipped three times. And then, all of a sudden, I just hit a tree. The shock and fear were overwhelming.

Cyndi says, My cell phone rings, and it's her.

I was like, Mom, don't freak out, but I just crashed my car, and I'm pretty sure it's totaled.

Cyndi says, "I was like, where are you? Are you OK? Are you bleeding? I ran to get there, and the two police officers told me that when they saw that car, they had not expected to see any survivors."

"Besides a few little scratches, I was fine, but I had, like, tree things sticking through my hair, and I was covered in dirt and rain," said Kenzi.

Her mom decided to take her to the hospital to be evaluated even though she was not injured. The fact that she could walk away from such a horrific accident is a testament to Subaru's safety features.

It sounds weird, but honestly, a couple of hours later, I was like, "I still need to swim." 

The insurance company totaled her Crosstrek after the accident.

After my crash, I decided to reach out to Subaru. My Subaru saved my life, and that's the reason I wanted to make this video to say thank you to Subaru.

"I owe my ability to still swim to Subaru's amazing safety standards. I am not a statistic. I am a survivor."

Dear Subaru, Thanks for saving my life, lifestyle, and all the things that I love.

Cyndi says, "Thank you so much for saving her life. We will always be a Subaru family."

On social media, Kenzi says, "Hey guys, so I've got some really exciting news; say hi to my brand-new Subaru Outback Wilderness!"

Right after my accident, we, of course, knew I needed a new car. And after what I'd just gone through, we all knew we would get a Subaru.

As soon as I saw the 2024 Outback Wilderness, I knew that was supposed to be my car, and I've been happy ever since.

Kenzi's story is a powerful testament to the safety of Subaru models. The Subaru Crosstrek, even at ten years old, proved to be a remarkably safe vehicle, a fact that should reassure all potential Subaru owners. 

Here is what I wrote in my report ten years ago about Crosstrek's safety tech in 2014. 

Subaru is the only automaker in the world with the distinction of earning IIHS Top Safety Pick awards for every model it builds and has done so for four consecutive years. This is not an easy task, but Subaru has been committed to safety since the 60s when they began conducting their tests long before any official testing was performed.

Subaru has been producing the safest cars in the world, but they are unsatisfied with past success. Subaru improved occupant protection in small overlap crashes by structurally enhancing their 2014 models. 

Beginning with their 2014 models, Subaru significantly improved occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. This is a result of Subaru engineers improving the already effective ring-shaped reinforcement frame used in Subaru vehicles.

Subaru's ring-shaped reinforcement frame has been used for over a decade and has proven very effective. 2014 models have been enhanced even more to provide better protection in the structure, increasing cabin rigidity and absorbing impact energy from any direction. This design gives superior protection and enables all their vehicles to keep achieving these safety awards year after year.

This proprietary design has helped the 2014 Impreza and XV Crosstrek earn top honors alongside the rest of Subaru's lineup. Changes were also made in the 2014 models to the curtain airbag placement and the new structural reinforcements.

Kenzi purchased a 2014 Subaru model, hoping she would be driving one of the safest cars on the road. Now she knows it is because the Crosstrek saved her life. 

Kenzi says, Dear Subaru, I can't thank you enough for saving my life. Your safety features in the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek made all the difference.

Have you been in an accident in your Subaru?

I want to hear from Subaru owners who may have been in an accident while driving a Subaru. You can comment using the red 'Add new comment' link below. 

Watch: Dear Subaru | Episode 4: I Walked Away YouTube video.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru