Drama in 2006

As you may already know, 2006 was a rough year for our family. In January, my parents were nearly killed in a head on collision while driving from New Orleans to Wisconsin after the holidays. It's truly amazing that they survived the accident. Here are some photos of their car.

"Driver's (Dad's) side"

"Passenger (mom's) Side--- See Callie's carrier in front"

(Callie survived the crash and spent a month at the Mattoon Animal Shelter)

"Front of Car"

And here's the article published in the local newspaper:

Journal Gazette (Mattoon, IL)
January 12, 2006 Section: News Page: a1 Memo: Published in the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier
No Headline
HERB MEEKER and PENNY WEAVER
Staff Writers

MATTOON - A two-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon resulted in serious injuries to three people, closed Interstate 57 for hours and also led to another crash in heavy traffic on the roadway.
The chain of events began when two cars collided on the interstate just north of the Old State Road Overpass at Mile Marker 188 1/2, according to Illinois State Police.
At 1:35 p.m., a southbound 2006 Dodge driven by Jarrod Curtis, 22, of Carbondale left the roadway when Curtis lost control for unknown reasons, police reported. The vehicle crossed the median and entered the northbound lanes.
A second vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet driven by Stanley *****, 58, of Menonomie Falls, Wisc., struck the Curtis vehicle.
Although he was wearing his seat belt, Curtis was fully ejected from his Dodge as a result of the crash, state police reported.
Curtis was transported to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and later life-flighted by helicopter to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Both ***** and a passenger, Sandra *****, 57, also of Menonomie Falls, Wisc., were trapped in their Chevrolet. Emergency personnel extricated the ****** from the vehicle in about 30 minutes.
Both also were taken to Sarah Bush and later transported by helicopter to Carle. Both were wearing their seat belts, police reported.
Citations are pending as a result of the accident.
State police said the northbound lanes of the interstate were closed for about three hours due to the incident.
At 2:45 p.m., another accident occurred in heavy traffic backed up due to the first crash.
State police reported that Miljan Bulick, 22, of Countryside was northbound at Mile Marker 187 1/2 in a 2003 Volvo semi tractor-trailer. Bulick slowed his rig for traffic due to the previous crash.
A 1999 International semi tractor-trailer driven by Donald Coffin, 51, of Leavenworth, Kan., struck Bulick's semi in the rear. Coffin was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, state police reported. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.
The first two-car accident drew vehicles and personnel from Mattoon Fire Department, Mitchell Jerdan Ambulance, Charleston Fire Department Ambulance, Coles County Sheriff's Department and Illinois State Police.
Rescue efforts at the scene required the detour of traffic from I-57 to U.S. 45, leading to heavy traffic along Old State Road and other local roadways.
Many emergency units were on the initial wreck scene for more than two hours, not counting extended traffic control efforts, and cleanup of spilled fuel at the site of the truck collision.
Copyright (c) 2006 Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. All rights reserved.

After spending a month in the hospital in Champaign, IL, mom was released and dad was transferred to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Dad finally made it back home in April, just in time for Easter. Both are now wheelchair free and continuing to recover.