Woman assisted by Jim Harbaugh in crash didn't know him
When two men assisted Christine Mowrer and her mother after she crashed her Jeep on Tuesday afternoon, she had no idea that one of the men was Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Mowrer, 53, told MLive.com that she lost control of her Jeep Cherokee after hitting a patch of ice on I-94 in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh and UM director of football operations Jim Minick were also driving on I-94 and saw the crash occur when they were on their way to the airport.
Mowrer said her vehicle “flipped three or four times” and she and her 73-year-old mother were both partially ejected from the vehicle. Harbaugh and Minick were there for assistance until medics arrived.
“They took care of me until the ambulance got there,” Mowrer told MLive.com from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. “I didn’t even know who he was until the state police told me later.
“I had blood dripping out of my nose and he helped me out and got me onto the ground. He got coats and blankets on us and put up an umbrella to block the wind. He probably kept me from going into shock. He was very, very nice.”
Mowrer expressed gratitude that Harbaugh and Minick stopped to help.
“I would like to tell them thank you but I really don’t know how to get a hold of them,” she said. “I really appreciate what they did for me and my mother.”
Michigan athletics spokesman David Ablauf told MLive that Harbaugh and Minick declined to comment.
“They believed they were doing what any other individual would do for another when they stopped and assisted,” Ablauf said.
Though he declined to comment, Harbaugh did praise Minick on Twitter.
Proud of my friend Colonel Jim Minick today! he took charge calling on combat training I was just following his instructions
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) March 4, 2015
Mowrer said she “ruptured a disc in her spine,” but doctors have told her that the injury will not require surgery and she will make a full recovery. Mowrer’s mother broke her nose and is also expected to make a full recovery.
Michigan had its first three spring practices last week. After a week off this week, the Wolverines will return to the field on March 10.
For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
