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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:20 PM

Family seeks donations for wreck victims

OHS grad, mother and girlfriend injured in June 13 rollover

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

The family of an Ottawa High School graduate injured earlier this month in a car accident is asking for your help.

A benefit account has been set up at Kansas State Bank, Ottawa, for donations to help the family of Donald Foster Jr., 18, Ottawa, Janice Brown, Foster’s great-aunt said.

Brown said Foster, a 2009 OHS graduate, has had one surgery and is awaiting another one following a car wreck involving him, his mother and girlfriend June 13 just north of Coffeyville.

“There has been so many complications,” Brown said of the delay between surgeries. “It’s just been one thing after another.”

Foster has no feeling from his sternum down, Brown said.

Foster’s mother, Angela Bishop, 37, Ottawa, recently was discharged from St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Brown said.

“She didn’t have to have surgery, but eventually she might have to,” Brown said.

Bishop’s neck was broken in two places, Brown said, and those interested in donating to help with her medical costs can do so at Bank of the West, Ottawa.

Foster’s girlfriend, Shana Ledom, 18, Williamsburg, who also is a May OHS graduate, was transferred to Overland Park Regional Medical Center following the wreck.

“She has a lot of healing to do,” Brown said, adding that Ledom broke a few bones but had not undergone surgery.

Of the three, Foster’s condition is the most critical, she said.

The three were taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center after a one-vehicle wreck June 13, a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol said.

Susan Correll, with the hospital, said Foster and Bishop were transferred to Joplin and Ledom to Overland Park.

Foster was southbound just after 10 a.m. June 13 on U.S. 169 about 12 miles north of Coffeyville when he attempted to pass with insufficient clearance, the highway patrol’s report said.

Foster attempted to get back into the southbound lane, overcorrected and the vehicle, a 1997 Ford Explorer, overturned, rolled several times and came to rest on its side, the report said. The report indicated the three occupants of the vehicle were not wearing seat belts.

Brown said the vehicle was Bishop’s, and the three were driving to Oklahoma to pick up Foster’s younger sister.

She said a number of Foster’s friends have visited him at the hospital.

“He has so many friends,” she said. “Some of them come and stay two or three days at a time.”

Brown said she was unsure how long Foster and Ledom have dated, but said the two have known each other for quite a while and are close.

“They seemed to really hit if off,” she said. “When he woke up, the first thing he asked about was his girlfriend.”

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.