CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Missy Martin, whose car was hit by a train last November, is on the long road to recovery.

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Hear From Missy Martin

After her accident, the 17-year-old Douglas County High School student was in a coma and spent time undergoing brain injury rehabilitation at Craig Hospital. Now she's at home with her family and talked to 7NEWS about how it's sometimes hard to keep her spirits up.

She said she doesn't remember the Nov. 12 crash, but she knows it changed her life forever.

"I used to be so independent, now I need my mom to help me with everything. I used to just go and have fun with my friends. Now, it's different," Martin said.

Her motor skills are impaired and her speech is slower and sometimes slurred, but the former cheerleader is improving, 7NEWS reported. And she did get to go to ther prom with her boyfriend, Vinny Veruchi.

"Oh that was so much fun. It was wonderful," she said.

Martin was driving to school last November when she became stuck in traffic, and her car stalled just in front of the railroad tracks on Fifth and Front streets in Castle Rock.

"We've been through that intersection so many times, and just that one time ... boom and it happened," Martin said.

Veruchi, who was driving in a truck behind her, tried unsuccessfully to ram Martin's stalled car off the tracks with his vehicle.

The Union Pacific coal train, going about 40 mph, broadsided Martin's car and nearly trapped her in the mangled wreck.

Martin is now concentrating on trying to get back to school. She wants to graduate, go to college and become a nurse.

"I love to help people, and I will help people as long as I can," Martin said.

She said the accident has just strengthened her resolve.

The crossing where she was hit is now on the city's high priority list for improvement. Consultants are finishing up on the design work and presenting plans at an open house on May 28 at the Cantril Building in Castle Rock.