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BENSON — Donnie Schroeder may be one of the few people in Central Illinois looking forward to winter.

“I’m hoping it snows,” said the 15-year-old high school freshman, who wants to try out a snowmobile he received as an early Christmas present.

Those who know Schroeder hope it snows, too, because it's nothing short of a miracle he's able to think about riding after a July accident that left him critically injured and killed three members of his family.

The Schroeders were vacationing in the Ozarks in Camden County, Mo., when the family's vehicle was hit head-on by a dump truck. Terry and Cindy Schroeder, and Donnie's twin brother, Dylan, were killed; the truck driver also died.

“Lately, we’ve found out more and more about the accident and what a miracle it is he is here,” said his aunt, Kelley Schroeder.

Donnie was flown by helicopter the University of Missouri-Columbia medical center with multiple broken bones, including his back and legs, and internal injuries.

The Roanoke-Benson High School student returned home two weeks later. "Everybody said it was amazing how fast he healed,” said Kelley Schroeder.