Ep 16. In an Instant

In an Instant is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of Dateline On ID. This episode presents the stories of people whose lives were changed irreversibly in just a moment. Across the world, many people experienced a sudden, unexpected, and life-threatening crisis that took them from mundane tasks and routine to the brink of death.

In the first segment of this episode, we meet a mother and daughter who experienced a dramatic change in their lives. Jennifer and Mallory suffered a car accident that changed their lives in an instant. Jennifer was driving Mallory home from college when a drunk driver smashed into Jennifer's car head-on, killing Mallory instantly. Jennifer was severely injured in the crash and was given a slim chance of surviving. The episode explores how Jennifer is coping with the loss of her daughter and recovering from her injuries. The segment highlights the investigative efforts that led to the drunk driver's arrest and conviction.

In the second segment, we meet a 22- year-old man who experienced a life-changing transformation in a split second. Jon Rudolph was an ambitious college student, striving to build his future when he was shot by his best friend's father. The bullet from a .357 Magnum destroyed Jon's spinal cord, paralyzing him instantaneously. The episode explores Jon's journey to recovery and his pursuit of justice for his friend's father. Viewers learn how Jon overcame the challenges of life in a wheelchair, including proving the shooter's intentions in the court to get justice.

The third segment is the most unimaginable story, in which a woman's sudden, severe illness changed her lifestyle instantaneously. Katrina Bradford led an active lifestyle, traveling the world and hiking throughout nature's finest scenic locations. However, four years ago, she contracted an infection that left her bedridden and unable to perform daily activities. The unexplained disease, called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is still puzzling to the medical science community. The episode unites viewers with Katrina's struggles and her journey to find treatments that would help her resume her hiking life again.

The next story revolves around the parents of a teen who suddenly disappeared. Evan Byar has plans to go camping with his best friend, but the trip ended in misfortune. Evan disappeared while his friend claimed to have gone for help, but the investigation journey found something terrible that explained the mystery around Evan's disappearance. The topic highlights the difficulties that parents face in these situations and the aftermath effects of such an incident.

In the last segment, we meet a 47-year-old woman who endured a severe attack that forever changed her life. Kathleen Sullivan knew her attacker and trusted him, as he was her husband for almost 15 years. However, when Kathleen told him that she was leaving him and filing for divorce, the man brutally attacked her, setting her on fire, and leaving her with severe burns and life-threatening injuries. The episode follows Kathleen's recovery and the trial of her ex-husband, who was subsequently convicted.

Overall, In an Instant, the Dateline On ID, is a collection of stories that showcases how significant milestones in our lives may happen without warning or notice, leading to life-altering transformations with devastating results. The episode presents real-life incidents and storylines that will leave the viewers with a sense of how precious life is and the urgency to cherish it.