ATLANTA — An Atlanta actress is recovering at Grady Memorial Hospital after she was badly injured in a deadly crash.
Kiley Casciano, 24, was on her way home from her going-away party on April 3 when she crashed into another car on I-20 West just east of the Downtown Connector.
Atlanta police said the driver of a Hyundai Elantra was traveling west when he struck a Nissan Murano SUV from behind, causing it to spin out onto the shoulder.
The driver of the Elantra went to check on the Murano. Police said he returned to his car and was hit by Kiley's car, followed by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
Authorities said the victim was outside the vehicle at the time of the crashes. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Kiley was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, along with her boyfriend, who was driving, and her best friend.
Kiley's family said she suffered many serious and life-threatening injuries, including a laceration of her brachiocephalic artery, renal laceration, trauma and fracturing of the sternum, laceration of the spleen and laceration of the liver.
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Kiley's injuries caused her to bleed internally, and the first days of her 11-day stay at Grady Memorial Hospital were a time of sustained pain and fear, her family said.
"Her surgeon later told us that she was very lucky to survive at all," brother Matt Casciano said.
Kiley Casciano had a TIA, also known as a "mini-stroke'," on April 10. The injuries that she suffered in the crash, specifically the lacerated brachial artery, created a blood clot that required surgery.
"This time was very scary for her, our sister Amber, who was with her at the time, and the rest of her friends and family," Matt Casciano said. "Luckily, Kiley has not lost any motor skills on the left side of her body, but may notice weaknesses there for the rest of her life."
The crash came on the night Kiley Casciano was saying goodbye to friends and family as she followed her dream to continue her acting career.
She posted on her Instagram page just a week earlier, saying: "It's 2$ Tuesday @mother447 tonite and guess what it's my last one!! Heading off into the great unknown. Come see me and @blindedamor."
Her family said she has been acting in commercials and television for the last 3 years.
"From my knowledge of her past, it is a near certainty that she will be able to achieve whatever she aims for if she is given the opportunity," Matt Casciano said.
She needs help recovering the costs that she has already invested in a move to New York, which is unable to do until she recovers from her injuries, her family said.
The family has set up a GoFundMe where you can donate money.