Femme Fatale Parade rider critically injured in crash

A New Orleans woman was critically injured in a crash, just moments after riding in the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale parade.Lisha Hawkins' family says she loves Mardi Gras and was very excited to ride in the parade for the first time, but those moments of excitement quickly turned to terror during her trip home."I immediately just dropped to my knees, and I just started praying that my aunt would be OK,” said Kentrisha Tureaud.An emotional plea filled with heartbreak is how Tureaud felt when her aunt was in a nearly fatal crash."If I would’ve lost my auntie, it would be like losing my best friend,” said Tureaud. Just hours after riding in the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale parade, New Orleans native Lisha Hawkins' trip home took a turn for the worse.As her family was driving to Alabama Sunday night, her daughter lost control of her vehicle on Interstate 59 in Mississippi and struck a tree.Her daughter is OK, but Hawkins spent three days in the intensive care unit with critical injuries."Multiple fractures in her face, six broken ribs, broken bones, broke her pelvic bones... fractured her femur,” said Tureaud.Mississippi Highway Patrol says it's important for drivers to use extra caution, especially when traveling at night.“In dark conditions when a person is traveling, that reduces visibility due to the fact that it is dark and in Mississippi, this is a rural area,” said Jameka Moore.While Mardi Gras celebrations will look a lot different for the Hawkins family this year, they are thankful she's alive."It's just a lot, but we are so grateful to God that my aunt is still here with us and she is able to go through this recovery process,” said Tureaud.Hawkins' family says she had to undergo three surgeries over the past three daysDoctors say it will take several months for her to fully recover.