GREELEY, Colo. – Former Bradford (Pa.) High School track and
field star Erin Hannon suffered “significant injuries” in a motor
vehicle accident Sunday two miles north of Keenesburg.
Hannon, a junior-to-be at the University of Nebraska, was a
passenger in a vehicle driven by Wally Walstrom, 25, of Marysville,
Kan.
The sport-utility vehicle, a 1999 Toyota 4Runner, was eastbound
on Interstate 76 when Walstrom lost control on a wet roadway at
4:45 p.m. (6:45 p.m. EDT). The SUV ran off the right side of the
roadway and then rolled through a fence and into a field,
sustaining severe damage, according to a report from the Colorado
State Patrol.
The SUV rolled 2 1/4 times and came to rest on its right side in
the field. The SUV was equipped with airbags, which did not deploy,
the report said.
According to the report, Hannon was ejected from the SUV during
the crash. She was then airlifted to North Colorado Medical Center
in Greeley where she underwent surgery Monday morning. Details of
the surgery were unavailable.
Hannon, 20, has since been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit
and into a private room where she will remain until she is moved
into the North Colorado Rehabilitation Center.
“Erin was out of bed and took a few steps today,” said Jeremy
Foote of the University of Nebraska media department. “That’s a
very positive sign. Over the next couple of weeks she will be
moving to a rehab facility in Lincoln (Neb.) or one closer to
Pennsylvania.
“She is bouncing back really quick. She is doing quite well very
quickly. That is definitely something good to see.”
Kris Grimes, an assistant track coach at Nebraska, said, “I can
tell you Erin has significant injuries, but doctors are very
optimistic she’ll be on the road to recovery.
“She did hurt her neck, but doctors felt because of her strength
and fitness, the injuries are not as significant as they could have
been. They feel good about the fact the spinal cord was in good
shape as far as they could tell.”
Grimes said doctors were encouraged by the way Hannon came
through surgery.
“Given the circumstances, she came out of the surgery as well as
could be expected,” Grimes noted.
Walstrom was cited for “careless driving caused bodily injury,”
according to the report.
Hannon and several of her friends from Lincoln, Neb., spent time
with Bradford High swim coach Pam Digel and her husband, Pete, over
the weekend in the mountains of Colorado.
The wreck occurred on Hannon’s return to Lincoln.
“When I received the information Monday morning I was
devastated,” Pam Digel said. “I am extremely fond of Erin as so
many people are. If anybody can come back from anything like this
it is her. We spent Tuesday with her and she was trying her best to
be Erin. Her sense of humor and her spark were still there. I’m
confident if anyone can recover from something like this it is
definitely Erin.”
Hannon was a multi-sport star at Bradford who went on to
Nebraska on a track scholarship.
Last week, Hannon was named to the United States Track and Field
and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
This past track and field season she was an NCAA championship
qualifier in the high jump (5’7”, tied for 23rd). In addition, she
was First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2008), on the Big 12 Fall
Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2006) and Big 12 Spring Commissioner’s
Honor Roll (2007).
In high school, Hannon was state champion in the triple jump and
high jump her senior season under then-coach Larry Stillman.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with her,” Stillman said. “She
is an incredible young lady. We are thinking positive thoughts for
her and her family. You couldn’t ask to meet a nicer young lady and
a nicer family. If anyone can come back from this it’s her.”
Bradford Owls’ track coach Tom Tessena said, “She is a great
competitor. I’d seen her working out at Pitt-Bradford this summer.
She looked to be in the best shape she has ever been. She was
pretty excited about the upcoming season.
“I think her competitiveness is going to help her come back from
this. I hope everything is all right for her.”
Cards may be sent to: Erin Hannon, Room 477, North Colorado
Medical Center, 1900 16th St., Greeley, Colo., 80631.
