Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Monday, March 1, 2010 9:21 am

Mother Angie Sterry accepts a hug from Ellen Price, whose son, Justin, helped rescue Sterry's daughter, Alisha Nance, from Stones River Feb. 3.

Mother Angie Sterry left injured daughter Alisha Nance’s side to witness the Rutherford County Road Board approve Monday the installation of guardrails where her daughter crashed a month ago.

Nance, 18, a Riverdale High School senior, remains hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Her car traveled off Barfield Road and into the icy Stones River where motorists flipped over her car and secured it until emergency personnel arrived.

“She’s a fighter,” Sterry said of her daughter.

Through petitions, several hundred residents asked the board to install the guardrails in a curve where Nance crashed.

Road Superintendent Mike Williams recommended the board accept an emergency bid of $13,337.83 from Williamson County Fence and Guardrail to install 862 feet of guardrails. An additional $750 would repair rails.

County Commissioner Gary Farley handed the road board the petitions.

“It’s a bad situation,” Farley said.

Road Board member Randall “Bubba” Jones made the motion for the guardrails that fellow board members approved unanimously. About 15 supporters clapped.

Sterry thanked board members and told them there was “no greater way to honor my daughter.”

Jones said the board wanted to fix the problem, adding, “I’m praying for your daughter.”

Williams said the project would start as soon as possible.

Amy Sayles, one of the original motorists who helped save Nance, said she was grateful the board approved the guardrail on a road she travels twice daily. Her husband obtained 105 signatures for the petitions while standing on Barfield Road near World Outreach Church last week.

“I just hope no other family has to go through what her family has to go through,” Sayles said. “I’m thankful the board felt the same way.”

Sterry thanked the motorists and emergency personnel who saved her daughter’s life and asked people to still pray for her daughter.

“She has a long road to recovery but she’s going to recover,” her mother vowed. “My God told me she’s going to be fine — the same as before.”

Nance is preparing to be transferred to the Christian-based, not-for-profit Shepherd Center, brain injury rehabilitation center in Atlanta where her friends can visit and help in her recovery.

When her daughter was injured, Sterry didn’t ask God why but asked God how she would recover. Doctors told her she needed a miracle about her daughter’s recovery.

“God didn’t’ send her back home to lay in a bed,” Sterry said, adding, “My faith is what kept me strong.”