Most of my family was in a major car accident yesterday afternoon that totaled their 15-passenger van. A tractor-trailer hit their van, spun it around, and then hit it again. All of their windows were shattered and they were showered in glass. Several of them were knocked unconscious for a short period of time and all of them sustained cuts, bruises, and the like. My mom and sister Beth both received several gashes on their heads, as they were both sitting on the same side of the van.

When the emergency crews arrived, the van was smoking and they had to cut it in half in order to get some of them out. Most seriously injured was my younger brother Aaron (9), he was unable to stand or walk and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. His right leg is broken and he will have pins implanted in his leg. He had several gashes in his mouth and had stitches sown in last night and he currently had to have a neck support because he is on too much pain medication to support it on his own. Surgery for his leg is now scheduled for this morning.

Their van is completely destroyed, but they were able to remove most of the items from inside, as they had been traveling on their way to Minnesota. My sister’s fiancé’s laptop was directly underneath Aaron and it was ruined.

They’ve rented two cars and most of them will be driving back to Tennessee this afternoon. My parents and Aaron will be staying near his hospital until he is released Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, assuming his surgery goes as planned. Matt, Leah, John, and I were not in the van and are as well as can be. Sarah’s wedding is still planned for this Tuesday night, since all preparations were already made before they left.

Shalom,
Benjamin Diffenderfer

PS - Aaron has come through his operation and is doing well.