JOPLIN, Mo. — Two best friends have an amazing story of survival. Many tornado survivors were drawn together on Tuesday by a shared memory of a horrible night. Ashleigh Hoke and Page Copple visited the spot where they nearly died as they drove home from their Joplin High School graduation.
“We got picked up in the tornado not realizing what we had driven into and our car got thrown about 75 yards into the park,” Hoke said. “We were in a convertible so the top got sucked off first and after that it was just complete chaos.”
They survived and went to nearby St. John’s hospital not knowing it had taken a hit too. Despite suffering serious injuries, they are able to take the walk in the park where
they landed in the May 22 tornado.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year,” said survivor Paige Copple. “It seems like it happened just a few weeks ago.”
Ashley suffered a punctured lung and broken shoulder. Paige had massive lacerations. Both have recovered from their injuries.
