Scott's survival and road to recovery was a national inspiration.
And now it's gotten Hollywood's attention.
Notre Dame announced on Tuesday that Haley Scott DeMaria's story will become a motion picture — and some of it will be filmed on campus.
This is only the third time in school history that the university will allow a movie to film on campus.
Its tentative title is, "Two Miles From Home."
The title is very symbolic of the day the bus crashed.
“I got a call at 2 a.m. to come into work 'cause our swim team had been in a bus crash,” said University of Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown. “It was a long couple days for everybody."
Two young women died, and one was left fighting for her life.
Now, almost 20 years later, the unforgettable and emotional story of Haley Scott DeMaria's road to recovery is set to hit the big screen in 2012.
“In this case, Haley’s story is so compelling and so inspiring it was a pretty easy decision to give approval," Brown said.
The University Of Notre Dame gets about a half dozen film requests a year.
Everything from commercials to movies.
Dennis Brown said they turn down being used as an iconic backdrop, but this story sparked their interest.
The movie "Two Miles From Home" will join "Rudy" and "Knute Rockne-All American" as the only movies filmed on the university's campus.
“I was thrilled. It would be so hard to tell this story without Notre Dame not only as a location but also a character," Haley Scott DeMaria said.
DeMaria says her journey to full healing was more than a university effort.
“Really, the entire South Bend played a role in my recovery," DeMaria said.
“If I had to estimate, at least two-thirds of the script is in South Bend," said Brown.
South Bend will be the primary backdrop in the movie.
Movie makers will also use photographers from LaPorte.
From temporary jobs to actors and movie assistants, the production team wants to use as much local talent as possible.
“To be able to give back to the community is huge," DeMaria said.
The movie is based on DeMaria's book, titled "What Though The Odds," published in 2008.
“I didn't cry when I was writing my book or when I read it, but after I read the script, tears were flowing, and it's a very powerful story," DeMaria said.
The production team plans to open the film in 1,200 theaters nationwide next year.
To give you a little perspective, "Rudy" opened in almost 1,500 theaters in 1993.
They're still raising money to start production — once they have the funds, they will start shooting right away. That could be as early as April.
