FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A well-known Fairhope businesswoman was seriously injured in a traffic accident on Wednesday. Kathie Byrd, 53, suffered a torn aorta, ruptured spleen, collapsed lungs and several bone fractures, and was airlifted by LifeFlight to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile.

At press time Friday, she was still listed in critical condition following two surgeries. Byrd remained in an induced coma, but was likely to be brought out of it as early as today (March 29) to determine whether her brain was damaged as a result of the crash.

Sarah, her 12-year-old daughter who was also in the car, was taken by ambulance to Thomas Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released. No other injuries were reported.

According to police, witnesses said Byrd was heading west on Gayfer Avenue at 10:56 a.m., and was going through the Greeno Road intersection on a green light, when her 1997 Ford Taurus was struck by a northbound 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser driven by Earl Mason McGowin III, 35, of Atlanta.

The impact pushed Byrd’s car into a southbound 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by 67-year-old William Eldred Barbour of Chipley, Fla., police said.

Sgt. Craig Sawyer, Fairhope police spokesman, said there is no indication alcohol was involved, but an investigation into the collision will continue.

Byrd co-owns Fantasy Island Toys in downtown Fairhope with her sister, Ginger Milligan.