The Omnibus

Issue date: 4/15/04 Section: News

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The Southwest Baptist University track team was involved in an auto accident late Friday (April 16) evening as they were traveling back from a meet at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

According to highway patrol reports at 10:20 p.m. Friday, a 1996 Ford pickup driven by Douglas Wetzel of Blairstown, Mo., failed to stop at an intersection and collided with the SBU van driven by Coach Mark Misch. Wetzel fled the scene of the accident on foot but was arrested in Kansas City the next day.

The SBU track team was about 10 miles south of Warrensburg when the accident occurred. After the collision, the SBU van rolled several times before it ended up on its side in the ditch.

Most of the SBU students were wearing their seatbelts. The eight SBU students and Coach Misch were taken to several area hospitals. As of today (April 19) all the students have been released except for Michael Haub, who is expected to be released tomorrow (April 20).

Michael Haub, a junior chemistry major from Helena, Mont., was airlifted to St. Lukes Medical Center in Kansas City. He was the most severely injured with a crushed ankle and face trauma. He has had two operations over the weekend and is expected to be released on Tuesday.

Tom Miner, a junior social science major from Bolivar, was also airlifted to St. Lukes and has a broken nose and damage to an eye socket. He was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Christine Showler, a senior elementary education major from Lebanon, Mo., was airlifted to Research Medical Center inKansas City and was released on Saturday.

John Harris, a senior psychology major from Mocksville, N.C., was taken by ambulance to Golden Valley Hospital in Clinton. He was released on Friday night.

Four SBU students were taken to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg with minor injuries and were released Friday night. Those students were: Brandon Sherrer, a senior physical education major from Pleasant Hope; Erika Anderson, a senior elementary education major from Waynesville; Austin Bunn, a junior social science education major from Jasper, Mo.; and Jennifer Trevathan, a senior religious studies major from Chicopee, Mass.

Coach Misch was taken to Golden Valley Hospital but later referred to St. Lukes because of a severely broken arm. He is at home and is expected to have an operation on his arm this week at Citizens Memorial Hospital.

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