WMS welcomes families who helped after bus accident

Winona Middle School welcomed about 20 special guests for lunch on Tuesday.

Very special guests.

Last Friday, the families of Beth Anderson, Maya Hagen and Krystle Gathje — and several others — sprang into action when a bus carrying sixth-graders on a school field trip crashed. The bus overturned on a narrow country road near Forestville State Park in Preston.

Students and staff were injured. Others were fine, but without good cell phone reception it was difficult for them to call for help.

They were hurt. They were shocked. They were afraid.

But they were not alone.

Maya’s husband James owns Total Car Care, and his co-workers – Thor Alexander, Noah Young and Reuben Swartzentruber – heard the accident and offered to help. It wasn’t long before a small village showed up. Melanie Doberenz and her family joined the families of Anderson, Hagen and Gathje.
Anderson was a trained nurse and used her skills to treat the injured. She stayed on the scene and helped as best she could, even as the first wave of ambulances and fire trucks arrived.

In addition to the physical injuries, there was obviously also psychological damage.

This is where families came in. Children also offered to help and took their new friends home with them. They shared snacks, water, blankets, ice packs, washcloths and their pets.
It was still a scary situation. But thanks to the warmth, kindness and compassion of these families, it was a little less scary.

“We are very grateful that we were there to help,” Anderson said.

Students and staff at WMS were able to thank them personally. Some made cards and the families from Preston even brought a sign saying, “You did it!” They also made stickers saying, “I survived the trip!”
WMS staff and students also gave the families a potted plant. On the pot was a quote from Mr. Rogers:
“When I was a boy and saw scary things on the news, my mother always said to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who will help.'”

Thank you to the Andersons, the Hagens, the Gathjes and everyone else who helped our students and staff on the day. Thank you for helping us.

We will never forget the kindness you showed to our Winhawk family.