Melanie Marquez survives US traffic accident with fractured spine

Former Miss International and actress Melanie Marquez was badly injured in a traffic accident in the state of Arizona in the United States last December 7, Marquez's daughter revealed.

According to daughter Maxine Bumgardner, Marquez was driving her pickup truck with three passengers when they went over a patch of ice.

Marquez lost control of the vehicle, and they went into a canal which was several feet deep.

The beauty queen suffered from two fractures on her spine, and another fracture on her sternum.

Two other other passengers also had numerous broken bones in the ribs, sternum and the back. The third passenger only had bruises and cuts.

Bumgardner and Marquez were able speak over the phone almost immediately after the crash and emergency services were directed to the scene of the accident.

Marquez and the badly injured passengers are to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days, added Bumgardner, as recovery was deemed to be better at home. — DVM, GMA News