Teenager involved in deadly crash opens his eyes

IDAHO FALLS — The sole surviving teenager of a crash that left two dead and a woman hospitalized is slowly improving at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Nickolas Kirby, 15, has been upgraded to serious condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman. He had been in critical condition since May 22.

Nickolas was in a vehicle with Ivy Vigliotti and Asher Strubel, both 15, when they collided with another vehicle at the intersection of 45th W. and 17th S. Ivy and Asher both died and Brittney Jamesen, the 31-year-old woman in the other vehicle, remains in critical condition at EIRMC.

Nickolas remains in the pediatric intensive care unit but has started to open his eyes and follow a few simple commands, according to a GoFundMe page established by his family.

“It is so exciting when we get him to squeeze our hand or smile for us. He is still very sleepy, and still on the ventilator. Our next goal is to get him breathing on his own. We will continue to wean his medications and hope to see him really wake up in the next week. It’s hard to believe we cheer for every little facial expression or toe wiggle when a few weeks ago we were cheering him on in track as he ran a 5:15 mile!” the GoFundMe states.