911 CARES Activation for WA 911 Director

[Guest guest]

While in Kansas City attending the APCO International Conference, Patti

VonBargen, Director of Whitcom 911 in Pullman, WA, was struck by a drunk

driver and seriously injured. She was walking with two staff members

from InterAct. The first Interact employee was just stepping on the curb

after crossing the street in the crosswalk. The next InterAct staffer

was hit by the side of the drunk driver and by the mirror forcing her

into her co-worker. Patti took the full force of the suspect vehicle and

media reports say she was dragged 100 feet or more. A cab driver

" pursued " the suspect and also called

9-1-1. The driver ultimately crashed into a tree and was taken into

custody. For many of us that were attending the conference, it was a

shocking development that hit home. Patti was attending the conference

in part to celebrate the APCO Supervisor of the Year recipient from

Whitcom.

After undergoing extensive emergency surgery, Patti spent a week in the

intensive care unit and remains hospitalized as of this date. Doctors

estimate she will have to stay in the Kansas City Hospital for 3-4 weeks

until they can consider transferring her home to Washington State. She

has extreme crushing wounds to her leg and arm. The conference committee

joined the Missouri and Washington APCO Chapters to provide immediate

support to Patti and her co-workers attending the conference and to

bring Patti's loved ones to Kansas City to be by her side during her

recovery. 911 CARES has spent time providing outreach to the Washington

Chapter, Whitcom and Patti. We had people sign cards of well wishes at

our APCO vendor booth and we will hold some fund raising efforts to help

her relief fund.

We want to ask you to support the account set up by the Washington

Chapter. We will also collect funds via www.911cares.com

<http://www.911cares.com/> and send them to the account below. We ask

that you consider a donation from your agency, your union, your APCO

Chapter, NENA Chapter or any other professional group that might help

Patti. Though insurance may cover many medical related expenses, the

cost of having family flown in, hotels in Kansas City for family, a

possible air ambulance (estimated at over $8,000) and other associated

costs will be overwhelming. Please do what you can!

Send checks directly to:

Patti VonBargen Donation Fund - c/o US Bank - 301 E Main St - Pullman,

WA 99163

You can make credit card donations via 911 CARES at:

http://911cares.com/Merchant2/admin.mvc?Session_ID=90b6db4e4c8162a41766c\

bea19044620 &

<http://911cares.com/Merchant2/admin.mvc?Session_ID=90b6db4e4c8162a41766\

cbea19044620 & >

We are happy that Patti was just moved from ICU to a regular room.

Please send well wishes, flowers, gifts or anything else that you would

enjoy getting if you were in her situation. Here is the hospital info:

Patti VonBargen - c/o Truman Medical Center -

2301 Holmes Street, Room 315 - Kansas City, MO 64108