Springdale schools provided counselors for students after an accident on U.S. 412 killed a father taking his daughter to Sonora Middle School and seriously injured a mother who dropped off children at Sonora Elementary School.
Most students at Sonora Middle School were in class when the accident happened Jan. 12, said Principal Martha Dodson. The school provided counseling for some friends of the girl whose father was killed and a couple students who were late to school and saw the accident scene, she said.
School started as normal at 8 a.m. at the elementary the day of the accident, said Principal Regina Stewman. A majority of the students were already in class, though a few students came in tardy because traffic backed up after the accident.
Jeremy White, 31, of Springdale was killed when his eastbound 2015 Toyota Highlander collided with a westbound 2004 Chevrolet Suburban about 7:55 a.m. White's daughter, Marty, who was riding in the Highlander, was injured but returned to the school the next day to have lunch with friends, Dodson said.
The sixth-grader wasn't back to attend classes as of Tuesday, Dodson said.
Kristen Hallmark, 31, of Springdale, driver of the Suburban, had just dropped off her children at Sonora Elementary School and was headed home to get another child ready for pre-school, said Shawna Terry, a family friend.
White's Highlander "crossed over the turning lane and entered the westbound lane in front of" Hallmark's vehicle, according to the State Police release. The front left part of White's vehicle hit the front left part of Hallmark's vehicle.
The weather was clear and the road was dry, according to the preliminary fatal crash summary.
Hallmark suffered numerous injuries, including a broken back, sternum, ribs, pelvis, hips and legs. Also, her ankle and foot were crushed, Terry said. Hallmark was in fair condition at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville on Tuesday, according to Gina Maddox, spokeswoman for the hospital.
The hospital's website describes a fair condition as stable vital signs, the patient being conscious and the patient possibly being uncomfortable. "Indicators are favorable," it states.
Hallmark was in the intensive care unit at medical center through Sunday, Terry said. Hallmark's four children -- ages 2, 4, 6 and 10 -- hadn't able to see their mother in ICU, she said.
Hallmark was stable and major surgeries to treat her injuries had been done, Terry said. Hallmark still must have surgeries on her foot and ankle, she said.
A GoFundMe account was set up for Hallmark's family and there's a Facebook page titled Prayers for Kristen Hallmark.
A fundraiser for Hallmark's medical expenses is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Sonora Elementary School, Terry said. There will be a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and a pie auction.
A GoFundMe page set up for Jeremy White's children on Jan. 14 notes he also has a 1-year-old son. The page is raising money for memorial expenses and the children's needs, it says.
NW News on 01/20/2016