BonnerSprings.com / Accident involving BSHS students kills one

Archive for Friday, March 28, 2008

A memorial for Mark "Tony" Holmes sits at the site of Friday's accident that killed the 18-year old Bonner Springs High School senior. Two other BSHS students injured in the accident remain hospitalized.

By Kevin Anderson & Jesse Truesdale

March 28, 2008

Photo by Kevin Anderson

Emergency crews carry an injured passenger to be air lifted to KU Medical Center. A late Friday morning accident involving a 2002 Nissan and a pickup truck was at the intersection of Kansas Highway 32 and the entrance ramp to northbound K-7.

Mark "Tony" Holmes

Photo by Kevin Anderson

The driver of this 1997 Ford pick truck, Daniel Hernandez of Bonner Springs, was injured and taken to Providence Hospital.

A fatality accident claimed the life of a Bonner Springs High School student late Friday morning at the intersection of Kansas Highway 32 and the exit for northbound K-7.

At 11:12 a.m. the Kansas Highway Patrol received a call for a wreck involving a 2002 Nissan passenger car and a 1997 Ford pickup truck.

Mark "Tony" Holmes, 18, who was in the Nissan's passenger seat, died in the accident. Daniel Perkins, 17, the second passenger, sitting in the back seat, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by helicopter to Overland Park Regional Hospital. The driver, Chad Way, had injuries that were not life-threatening and was taken to Kansas Unversity Medical Center.

The Nissan was heading east on Kansas Highway 32, turning left to the northbound exit for K-7, when the pickup truck, westbound on K-32, hit it.

None of the occupants were wearing seat belts.

The driver of the truck, Daniel Hernandez, 40, was injured and taken to Providence Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

A Kansas Highway Patrol officer on the scene said he suspected drugs were involved in the accident because he smelled marijuana in the Nissan.

An announcement was made at Bonner Springs High School about the accident and informed students that counseling was available.

Holmes was featured in a Nov. 13, 2002 Chieftain article when he was a seventh-grader at Clark Middle School. In 2000, Holmes had survived a sometimes fatal disease, Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, but doctors were forced to amputate each of his legs below the knees because blood circulation there had stopped for an extended period of time.

An outpouring of community support flowed for Holmes during the recovery process with a benefit event, a Valentine's Day telegram fundraiser and other good-will gestures.

Holmes eventually learned to walk with prosthetics and he sometimes used a wheelchair when he got tired.

Holmes, 13 at the time, told the Chieftain his ordeal had taught him to take each day as it comes.

"Don't think ahead in life because you don't know what will happen," he said.

Click here for Holmes' obituary.

For more on this story, check back to bonnersprings.com throughout the week and pick up the April 3 edition of The Chieftain.

Discussion

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29 March 2008
at 4:40 p.m.

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MidwestLady (Anonymous) says…

Just about 14 hours later there was another accident at about the same area. A lady was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes and had several passengers in her car. They hit a vehicle going eastbound. Luckily, no one was killed in this accident, but another innocent driver, the eastbound vehicle, was affected by someone else's poor actions. What are the chances that alcohol was involved in the latest accident? Pretty darned good I would say.
30 March 2008
at 1:07 p.m.

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kckitty (Anonymous) says…

First off…my condolences to all families involved in this accident. I would like to know WHEN Bonner Springs is going to acknowledge that the intersection(s) of K-32 & 7 Highway have needed stop lights for a very long time? Yes, they finally installed a set for south bound 7 unto K-32, but not without a “fuss” and a series of meetings. The north bound exit/ entrance ramp remains the most dangerous intersection I can think of. You literally take your life into your own hands trying to get on or off that ramp. One more traffic signal could have/ would have prevented numerous accidents. Shame on you Bonner Springs for placing the almighty dollar ahead of the safety of the public.
30 March 2008
at 2:03 p.m.

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jennip_2008 (Anonymous) says…

I just want to let the famies of all of these wonderful boys that im here if you all need anything! I loved them all to death! They were really good friends of mine… And i know that everyone can pull there all of this, we just have to stick together! I love everyone, especially all three of these boys! Im gonna miss u tony holmes… I know that your safe up in heaven! I know that your looking over everyone making sure that we stay in school and just keep our heads up! I love all three of you boys, and were all here for every single one of you! You will be missed “Tony.” And dont worry im helping your brother cody as much as i can! he loves you and so do tonzzzzz of others… Everyone at bonner springs loves all three of you boys… Rest in Peace “Tony Holmes.” Come on Danny boy u can pull threw this…

!Much Lovin too all three of you!
31 March 2008
at 2:28 p.m.

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whimz (Anonymous) says…

i am genuinely sorry to the families of these kids. i can't imagine the pain they must be feeling.
however, i have to comment on the interview with the highway patrol on the news the night of the crash. the trooper stated that “if these kids had been where they should have been this never would have happened” and that there was “an odor of marijuana in the vehicle.”
these two statements should never have been made. this was not a time for opinion or speculation and the trooper doing so should be counselled. there was no benefit to having made these statements and perhaps was hurtful to people who were already in so much pain.
2 April 2008
at 11:05 a.m.

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bonnerdonner (Anonymous) says…

The Highway Patrolman speaks the truth and it hurts. Maybe that was not the best time to say it, but then maybe it made some other kids and there parents think about what goes on.

Truth hurts.