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Two members of Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets are in intensive care after a Saturday car accident.
Six cadets were injured in the single-car crash on Craigs Creek Road, near U.S. 460. All were hospitalized, and two remain in intensive care at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Corps of Cadets spokeswoman Carrie Cox said all six students were members of Echo company.
Ed Spencer, vice president of student affairs, announced Monday afternoon during a University Council meeting that the six cadets were on the way to Caldwell Fields for a corps event.
University spokesman Larry Hinker said in an e-mail it was “an officially sanctioned corps event called sophomore initiation, for the sophomores of Echo Company. At the event, planned for Caldwell Fields, the sophomores are officially welcomed into their company.”
“This is a sorrowful outcome to what should have been a happy evening in the life of the cadets,” he wrote.
A press release from Blacksburg Rescue said the students were traveling in “an older model SUV” when their vehicle “flipped and landed upside-down in a ditch causing all six of the patients to be trapped inside.”
Spencer said the vehicle was a Ford Bronco. He reported to University Council that the two passengers in the front seat were wearing seatbelts, but four passengers in the rear seats were not wearing seatbelts.
The press release said “five patients were flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with potentially serious injuries. One patient was transported to Montgomery Regional Hospital by Blacksburg Rescue with non-life threatening injuries.”
Spencer said Monday afternoon two students were still in the intensive care unit at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He said the vehicle was one of several in a caravan going to the event.
At the site of the accident, orange spray paint marked the car’s skid marks. The skid marks begin about 100 yards down the road from the entrance to the Jefferson National Forest Shooting Range. They stretched in an arc for about 40 yards across the road and ended at the edge of an embankment that is at about a 50-degree angle to the road.
Orange spray paint marked the four corners of where the car laid in the ditch, on top of the end of a metal drainage ditch.
A tree was down across the accident scene, an indication that the car may have brought it down when it rolled. Broken glass, a roll of leftover medical tape, bloodied bandages and debris from the inside the car, including a map of the state of Maryland, marked the place where the car lay.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and declined to release further details.
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Does anyone know anything at all about these students?? You don't want to go one heresay, but it would be nice for the CT to update, even if it did happen on the weekend!
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The worst injury was a back injury. He may never walk again. There were also several broken legs, arms, etc.
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What kind of "life threatening injuries"? Are they recoverable? Will they be able to walk again? I assume if they were in a caravan then 911 was dialed by someone outside the car? How long did it take to respond? Were they all conscious or unconscious? What were the corps doing out there?
Most importantly, how did the SUV just flip over into a ditch? Were they speeding?
Just some questions left unanswered/not updated.
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rumors are they were swerving (great idea in a bronco right?)
and another rumor is 1 is paralyzed waist down.
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there were not swerving....over correction most likely
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I heard they were blind folded and possibly hands tied behind their back in the backseat. This was part of the hazing or initiation as some call it.
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This is not true, they were not tied up and could see. They were simply being welcomed to the Company, not hazed.
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I wonder if fraternities do similar things. I'm sure they do.
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you should not put out lies like this...were you in the car? no. were you in echo company? no. its not hazing, its a freakin barbeque by a stream in the national park.
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It was actually 7 people in the car but only 6 were hurt. One of the was able to walk away. One of the injured is paralyzed from the waist down. Another has a broken femur and etc (I'm not sure what exactly). A third has severe shoulder trama including a separated shoulder.
They were in a Bronco like described, they accidentally went over the road some and then over corrected. I'm not positive about this fact, but I'm pretty sure about the injuries.
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There was only 6
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Well that's unfortunate. One minute your riding along and the next your paralyzed from the waist down. I've been in that area before and the road is dangerous in some areas if you speed. It's also very easy to miss the entrance to craig creek road and I've had to slam the breaks to make the turn before. I'm not sure that's what happened though since I don't know where the ditch is.
Dangerous area.
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I think that road is cursed for Hokies
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The spot where the accident happened is not far off Rt 460, just past the shooting range entrance. The road is straight there.
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There was no hazing, it's initiations, it happens every single year.
The one cadet MAY be paralyzed from the waist down, there is no confirmation of that.
--Knowledgeable Source
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It is confirmed paralyzed from the waste down
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It is not confirmed there is still a chance
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I'm a good friend of the kid that has the worst injuries. The driver was swerving on purpose to scare the blindfolded sophomores in the back of the Bronco. It was not an over correction. It is solely his fault and was a hazing event. He should have thought about his actions before he ruined one of his friend's lives.
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My nephew is the cadet who suffered the worst injuries. He is stable, in intensive care, having undergone multiple surgeries. Our family would ask that NO-ONE speculate at this time about the extent of the injuries, nor should any speculation be put forward as to the particular details of the incident. This is a very sensitive time for our family and we ask that all keep us in your thoughts and prayers rather than muddying the waters with needless and heedless commentary. Many Thanks.
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Please wish him the best of luck from his coworkers at his summer job. We wish him a well and speedy recovery! We are all praying for him
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Please know that friends of the Cook family in Salisbury are praying for them. It has been amazing how many people have a connection with the Cook family. If there is anything we can do, please let us know.
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Dear Cook family,
I am praying for a full recovery for your son, brother, nephew. So many people are concerned, and wish you well.
Sincerely....
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Our family expresses deep gratitude for the thoughts, prayers, and kind support of all those who have written, commented, and sent best wishes at this time. There will be a short press release soon as to the incident in Salisbury papers and perhaps locally as well, TBD. Clearly I am prohibited from commenting upon conditions and/or any other factors. I just wanted to express my personal thanks and thanks again on behalf of my family.
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i want to let the cook family know you all in my prayers, i wish him a speedy recovery..
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I saw this on Fox News over the weekend...a breakthrough in treating victims of spinal injuries..
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4368900/major-milestone-in-stem-cell-therapy
Praying for all of you.
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http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20101012/news/101019922&tc=yahoo
more on treatment....
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Stem cell treatment is a top search on yahoo right now....
http://www.ajc.com/news/first-stem-cell-treatment-676895.html?cxtype=ynews_rss
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Has anyone heard any more information or updates on this tragic accident? I will keep all of them in my thoughts and prayers.
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Is the ct going to update us on this...theres a lot of hearsay here that has kept people wondering. At least you could say that the family wants privacy for the next couple of weeks....so that people respect their wishes. Otherwise people arent informed and start makin up things.
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As to updates: all of us in the family are utterly focused upon my nephew's recovery and rehabilitation. We have been advised that no comments are appropriate at this time. I will stay posted on this article and let those of you who have been so incredibly supportive know things when I can.
As to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta: We heard of the new experimental treatment as well, but it's too soon to even contemplate that. Many thanks for the link (which I did not have) and (as I have expressed before) many, many thanks on behalf of our family. The kindnesses and thought and prayers have been a pillar of strength for all of us in this time of trial and tribulation.
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Dear Dr. Cook,
I'm glad you found the treatment link useful.
I have a few connections to J. My daughter worked with your nephew this summer. Although I never met him, this situation has consumed me with worry. I have another daughter who is the same age as J., and was in Navy ROTC at Penn State. Va Tech is precious to me. Although I went to UVA, many of my best friends attended VT.
I stayed up late last night to read the book "Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story." Adam is the Penn State football player who broke his neck while tackling an Ohio State player in Columbus, OH. Adam's prognosis was not good, he had a 3% chance of walking. Today, 10 years later, Adam is fully mobile. He's an attorney in New Jersey, and is getting ready for his wedding.
I phoned the Taliaferro Foundation this morning, and spoke with one of the board members. Adam's father, Andre Taliaferro, would like to reach out to your nephew's parents. Would you be willing and able to assist /broker that conversation? The Taliaferro's message is incredibly positive, and may offer another source of hope for your family.
Forgive my boldness, I don't mean to be intrusive.
Many prayers, Kate cell: 610-717-8802
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Dear Kate,
We can't begin to describe our gratitude to you for your singular efforts, and of your own volition as well! That in and of itself gives us cause for hope. I have shared this with the family and I'm sure that we will be in touch with you soon. In the interim, please accept my personal thanks and gratitude, and that of our family. Knowing that there are folks like you in the world makes us all stronger and closer members of the Human Family. Cheers.
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Dear Dr. Cook,
I'm glad you found some help with the "nuggest" I've provided.
To streamline the communications with the Adam Taliaferro Foundation, I'll just provide you with the contact information. Please call me if you like, just thought you would appreciate some options so you can decide what is easiest.
Yesterday morning I spoke with Kathy Muscufo. She and her partner David Maxwell at Edward Jones Investment in Turnersville, NJ (south NJ) manage the fund and communications with the Taliaferro family. Kathy was a pleasure to speak with, however will be on vacation next week. She was going to update David to let him know that your family may like some assistance.
Their phone number is (856) 582-0212. Web page is http://www.taliaferrofoundation.org/.
At a minimum, Andre Taliaferro (Adam's father) would like to speak with you and J's parents and offer some peer mentoring. He's so positive, and would be able to relate very well to what you all are experiencing.
I am so willing to help with anything, just let me know.
Praying for all of you, Kate Waters
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Please express our thanks to the family for providing information for the article that appeared in the Daily Times today. We miss them and wish the best for them and are continuing to pray for all of you.
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The link to the article.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010160340
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Dear Dr. Cook,
It sounds like J. and your family are still in Virginia. Is there a monetary fund that we may contribute to in order to help with expenses? If not, I am happy to work with my financial planner to establish one.
Another thought that I had....I have a home in Berlin, MD that we live in during the summer. It's not used very often during the other months. It's located very near the pool where J worked this past summer. If the Cook's would like a place for guests, relatives, friends to stay in MD while J. recovers, my home is open to them.
My e-mail is kwaters@cisco.com, phone is 610-717-8802.
Best wishes, and many continued prayers. Kate
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ALCON:
Please stop hiding behind anonymous when making your comments. To do so is cowardly, dishonorable and dishonest. Anyone will say anything when they are not held accountable and responsible. If you have something to say, say it with conviction. If you feel you must hide behind anonymity, you lose credibility.
David Cook
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