Westwood wrestlers, coach still hospitalized after crash
By Lynn Zerschling | Posted: Monday, November 10, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Five members of the Westwood (Iowa) High School wrestling team and their coach remained hospitalized Sunday night following a two-vehicle crash near Hornick, Iowa, Saturday that left another driver dead.
"The driver of the other vehicle that struck the school vehicle was Brad Haburn, the father of one of our Westwood students," Westwood School Superintendent Kirk Ahrends said Sunday night. "The thoughts and prayers of our communities go out to his family."
Haburn, 53, of Spencer, Iowa, was declared dead at the scene on Iowa Highway 141.
Wrestling coach Daniel Thompson, 26, of Mapleton, Iowa, who was driving a school SUV, remained in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City, a nursing supervisor said.
Wrestlers Trent Baker, 16, and Blake Jorgensen, 15, both of Sloan, Iowa, remained in critical condition Sunday. Adam Greeno, 16, of Salix, Iowa, has been upgraded to guarded condition from critical. Guarded condition is between serious and fair condition.
Wrestlers Jordan Mitchell, 18, of Sloan and Sage Washburn, 16, of Hornick, remain in fair condition.
The wrestlers were on their way to a wrestling clinic at the Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto School District.
"The injuries to the students and coach are substantial and ongoing," Ahrends said. "We can say that all held their own or improved during the last 24 hours. Coach Dan Thompson, Jordan Mitchell and Sage Washburn are able to have visitors. Immediate family members may only visit Trent Baker, Adam Greeno and Blake Jorgensen."
Classes at Westwood will open as usual this morning. However, students will not take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Iowa Test of Educational Development as planned. Those exams will be postponed a week. Counseling will be available for students. The high school staff will meet at 7:45 a.m. today in the library.
"We had a prayer service at 5:30 (Saturday) at the high school and over 300 people attended that. We had approximately 100 attend a 1 p.m. update and prayer service," Ahrends said.
Another prayer service was held Sunday evening.
The accident happened about 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Iowa Highway 141 between Hancock and Jasper avenues, authorities said. An official with the Iowa State Patrol, which is investigating the accident, said it could take up to a month to determine the cause of the crash.
However, Ahrends said in a statement, "All reports to us indicate our school vehicle was driving in a safe and legal manner."
He added that school officials and the families "wish to thank everyone for their prayers, visits and outstanding support through this time."
"The driver of the other vehicle that struck the school vehicle was Brad Haburn, the father of one of our Westwood students," Westwood School Superintendent Kirk Ahrends said Sunday night. "The thoughts and prayers of our communities go out to his family."
Haburn, 53, of Spencer, Iowa, was declared dead at the scene on Iowa Highway 141.
Wrestling coach Daniel Thompson, 26, of Mapleton, Iowa, who was driving a school SUV, remained in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City, a nursing supervisor said.
Wrestlers Trent Baker, 16, and Blake Jorgensen, 15, both of Sloan, Iowa, remained in critical condition Sunday. Adam Greeno, 16, of Salix, Iowa, has been upgraded to guarded condition from critical. Guarded condition is between serious and fair condition.
Wrestlers Jordan Mitchell, 18, of Sloan and Sage Washburn, 16, of Hornick, remain in fair condition.
The wrestlers were on their way to a wrestling clinic at the Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto School District.
"The injuries to the students and coach are substantial and ongoing," Ahrends said. "We can say that all held their own or improved during the last 24 hours. Coach Dan Thompson, Jordan Mitchell and Sage Washburn are able to have visitors. Immediate family members may only visit Trent Baker, Adam Greeno and Blake Jorgensen."
Classes at Westwood will open as usual this morning. However, students will not take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Iowa Test of Educational Development as planned. Those exams will be postponed a week. Counseling will be available for students. The high school staff will meet at 7:45 a.m. today in the library.
"We had a prayer service at 5:30 (Saturday) at the high school and over 300 people attended that. We had approximately 100 attend a 1 p.m. update and prayer service," Ahrends said.
Another prayer service was held Sunday evening.
The accident happened about 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Iowa Highway 141 between Hancock and Jasper avenues, authorities said. An official with the Iowa State Patrol, which is investigating the accident, said it could take up to a month to determine the cause of the crash.
However, Ahrends said in a statement, "All reports to us indicate our school vehicle was driving in a safe and legal manner."
He added that school officials and the families "wish to thank everyone for their prayers, visits and outstanding support through this time."
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Megan Burgess wrote on Nov 12, 2008 11:28 AM:
Be strong and hang in there. Those boys can get through anything. Love them lots. "
Lisa Post wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:23 AM:
From: A fellow Westwood Alumni "
Rich Renae Servis wrote on Nov 10, 2008 10:26 PM:
Mike Thomas wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:14 PM: