Posted: 9/18/06
UPDATED: Crash sends five juveniles to hospital
 Emergency workers worked to extricate Jessica Olen, the driver of a mini-van involved in a serious accident with a pickup truck Monday morning. Olen was later transported by helicopter to a Twin Cities medical facility. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
A routine drive to school turned tragic for five North Branch teenagers Monday morning when their vehicle collided with another on Hemingway Ave. All five were transported to the Twin Cities for medical treatment, including two who were transported by helicopter.
According to the preliminary accident report from the North Branch Police Department, Jessica Jean Olen, 16, was driving southbound on Hemingway Ave., in a Dodge Caravan at approximately 8 a.m. Aboard were four passengers; cousins Riley Nichole Kessel, 16, and James David Kessel, 14; Nicholas Scott Lundquist, 16; and Olen's brother Anthony Jon Olen, 14.
A pickup truck being driven by Gregory Allen Becker, 25, of North Branch, attempted to turn into the northbound lane of Hemingway Ave. from eastbound 378th Street when the truck was struck by the van carrying the five teenagers. Both Becker and his passenger, Julie Ann Fairbanks, 29, of North Branch, were evaluated at the scene and did not require further immediate medical care.
The five passengers in the van were injured in the crash and were transported to various Twin Cities medical centers for treatment. Two passengers, Lundquist and Jessica Olen, were transported by helicopter.
The accident is being reconstructed by the State Patrol and remains under investigation by the North Branch Police Department, but the preliminary report indicates that Becker's actions, turning northbound from 378th Ave., was "factor contributing to the accident."
At press time, Jessica Olen was listed in fair condition at Gillette Children's Hospital; brother Anthony is in satisfactory condition at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC); James Kessel is listed in serious condition at HCMC; Riley Kessel is listed in good condition at Regions Hospital; and Lundquist is reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. His family has declined to release any information as to his condition.
The North Branch Police Department was first on the scene of the crash, and Lakes Region EMS executive director Aarron Reinert credited officers Dan Meyer and John Pego with possibly saving lives. "They realized right away that there were severe injuries and got the right resources to the scene," said Reinert. "That made the biggest difference."
Reinert also noted that the injured van passengers were sent to different hospitals for treatment's sake. With all five in serious condition at the time of the accident, all needed immediate medical attention. Transporting all passengers to the same location may not have allowed for that due to staffing or space concerns.
According to Barbara Boelk, who is acting as spokesperson for the families, the Olens and the Kessels are all expected to make a full recovery. Also, visitors are welcome for all four patients. Lundquist's immediate family did not comment.
Comment from Andrew Mora, 9/19/06
My condolences to the families...
Comment from Cheryl A. Brevig, 9/19/06
Thank you for the professional manner in which you printed this story and for showing the minivan. I am the maternal grandmother of the children and I understand the community is rallying around all these young adults. Thank You from our family.
Comment from Amilynn, 9/19/06
I love all these guys so much! They are my best friends! Im glad that jess, rylie, james and tony are doin good. Nicholas just hang in there stay strong!
Comment from Beth Voss, 9/19/06
Hi, I knew a couple of these kids.
My heart goes to their parents. My son got in a car accident too last March of this year. So I knew what their parents are going through..
Comment from Tina Ness, 9/19/06
We love you very much James!! And we hope to see you as your goofy self soon. I also pray that everyone has a full recovery and gets to come home!! And James, lets you, me, Lara, Tammy, Brandon go dancing very soon k!!
Comment from Brittany Gorsuch, 9/19/06
My prays go out to jessica and tonys family i lived with jessica this past summer and got to know their family well and it is so sad to have to see their family going through this. Stay strong jess and tony i love you.
Comment from Nikki Olson, 9/19/06
I love you guys all so much, and I miss you so much, and I hope you all get better soon!! I love becoming close with you Jessica, and I'm glad I didn't lose you... My prayers are with all of you guys!
Comment from Matthew Radi, 9/19/06
I love you guys, PLEASE get better, Jessica (lil sis) I Love you, BE strong all of you
Comment from Megan Camacho, 9/19/06
Jess, we've grown up together since we were little tots on the play ground, you and your family have been there for me through thick and thin i love you so much.
As you said the day before the crash, you are my sister. I pray for the best for all of you guys, get well soon! I Love You.
Comment from Kelcie Baker, 9/20/06
My prayers are with you guys till you recover and you will recover no matter what because if you don't I'm going to cry. But I will be with you guys all the way I promise I LOVE YOU ALL way too much for you to leave me get better please. XOXOXOXOX
Comment from Abby Krause, 9/20/06
James hun I Love you so much you better get better super fast bud cause I Love You to death, and i'm not mad anymore its okay. i love you, and get better fast! And to the rest get better soon. you are all in my prayers
Comment from LindsAy Potzsch, 9/20/06
oh my gosh james come back :) you are the koolest kidd ever! i hope you get well soon :) i wanna see u dance :) and jessica even tho u hate me i hope u get better and i don't kno the rest of the kids but i hope they get better too. GET WELL SOON love yah guys :) <3 LindsAy
Comment from Kari Campbell, 9/20/06
Jessica you are my sis to me adn i love you very much i am glad that i saw you today and riley adn i am glad that you made it through this adn tony adn james my love goes out to you two as well i am glad that you are doing well too ... Nick i love you and you are going to get through this ok i am looking forward to seeing you guys up and at it so we can chill out adn just laugh together just like we did not to long ago LOVE YOU ALL xoxo
Comment from Brent Voss, 9/20/06
i miss all u guys so much and school isnt the same without u guys. we all love u and most of us will be visiting u in the hospital, i kno i will be. BE STRONG!!!
Comment from Sandy Christensen, 9/20/06
I have known Jessica and Tony since they were babies and their parents since childhood back in Morris. This is a tragic accident. My thoughts are with the Olens and other families as they struggle with this difficult time. I believe that their strength as a family will pull them through as with other challenges they have faced. We will be praying for them.
Comment from Cassidy Kujala, 9/20/06
Jessica- you mean the world to me, ilove you to death and i hope you get better. Stay strong and i cant wait to see you.
Nick- Stay strong buddy, your the coolest kid out there. I hope you get better. I love you.
Riley- It sucks not hearing your loud voice everyday in the locker bay. Its just not the same without you. I hope you get better. I love you.
Nichole and James- I dont know either of you but stay strong and i hope you get better.
Comment from Michelle Olen, 9/20/06
Thank you all from the bottom of all of hearts for all of your love, prayers and support. It means the world to us, words cannot express what it means to all of us to have all of the support, visits, prayers, etc... I can only speak for our children, Jess and Tony, but they are recovering well. There have been a few bumps but we are very optimistic at this time. Thank you so much again. Michelle and Jon Olen
Comment from Ryan locke , 9/20/06
hey best friends hang in there i really wanna come and see all of you but i am gonna come see you all on thursday but hurry up and get better so we can move on and have some more fun so we have more memories.
Comment from shelly oehlers, 9/20/06
Jessica~
Hey babe! I hope you're feeling better and I really miss seein your smilin face everyday! Stay strong and get better soon!
I will keep you in my prayers and hope I can come visit you soon! I love you! Love, Shelly
Comment from Jeanne, Brian and Brody Lang, 9/20/06
Jess,
We are thinking of you all the time, we can't wait to see your huge smile and hear your infectious laugh!!! Take care
love you "Auntie" Jeanne
Comment from cathy stiernagle, 9/20/06
To Tony,
I know Jess is getting a lot of attention but we all love you too!
Love, Cathy, Bryan, Kim and Andrew
Comment from Cheryl A. Brevig, 9/20/06
Dear Tony Minoni, and Jessica Jean, Grandma Cheryl, Chris, and his dad are praying for our little somethings. I love you so much big guys! All the kids in Morris that you know are sending their love and prayers. Ciao!!!
Comment from kayla packard, 9/20/06
james you need to get better soon so i have someone Cool to sit by in lunch, ur always soo funny! tony get better for hockey.
i dont know the rest of you but get better soon.
You are all in our prays!!!
<3
Comment from Shelli Ball, 9/20/06
Hey Tony and Jess just wanted you to know we are praying for you guys everyday. Were here for you guys ok. Michelle and John what ever we can do PLEASE let us know. We love you guys.
Shelli,Marc,Tyler,Jesse and Justin
Comment from Jenny Christianson, 9/22/06
To the victims and their families of everyone involved:
I live on the corner where the accident happened and was on the scene before the EMS and police arrrived. I have thought about you hourly ever since and worried about the outcome. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you all work towards your recovery.
Comment from Christina Dancisak, 9/22/06
Dear Jess, Tony, Nick, James, and Riley... i really hope you guys get better, it's a disaster that you guys got into that...i miss you guys and really really hope you guys get through this.
Love you all!
Christina
Comment from Jake Mesenbrink, 9/22/06
Jess and Tony,
I hope you guys get better real soon! I might come and see you on Saturday! I love you both! And get well soon to all else involved!
Your Fav Cuz- Jake
Comment from Kelly Zengerle, 9/22/06
Tony, Jessica, Michelle & Jon, you are in our thoughts and prayers every minute of the day!! Hang in there, and if we can do "anything" at all, please, please let us know!!
P.S. Tony, you owe me a sweeping!
Love, Kelly,Steve,Jake,Anthony & Delaney
Comment from alyssa tatro, 9/22/06
hey,
i have noun tony and jessica for a long time now tonys in my grade and a really good friend to me !! i kno jessica cause they ride our bus. When i first heard about it i didnt kno what to say!! i feel really bad and if there is anything you need me to do just ask tony i love u and get better really soon were all thinking and praying for you!!! jessica get well also as soon as you can we miss you both a lot!!
Comment from Ricky & Aaron Swanson, 9/22/06
Hey Tony,
Hope you get better soon! Aaron
Tony get better soon the team needs you! Ricky
Comment from Ashley Caswell, 9/22/06
jessica- i really miss seeing you in school and i wish that i could get down there more to see you. i cant wait till you get home so then we can hang out like them other days and have a good time. get better soon and my prayers go out to you and every one else.xoxo
Nick- i hope that you get better. i love you so much and i miss you and i am going to come visit you. who knows if they'll let me. but get better and we will hang out when you get out for sure. i love you. xoxo
Comment from Jill Peltier, 9/22/06
Tony and Jess
I hope you both have a speedy recovery. Michelle and John anything you need please call me. To the other kids involved and their families and the Olen family my thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Comment from Joseph and Anna , 9/22/06
We are pleased to announce that Riley is making a full recovery, she has been released from the hospital and will be back to school Monday or Tuesday. Friends wishing to visit can stop by our home, please keep it in small groups.
Unfortunately James is still the hospital, but he is doing better and we are expecting him home Sunday or Monday. He will most likely have a longer recovery time due to the type of injury.
We would like to sincerly thank everybody for their prayers and support. We truly think that it's because of the support from friends and family that the kids are making a rapid and full recovery.
We are keeping the Olen and Lundquist families in our prayers until all the kids are safely home and fully recovered.
Sincerly,
Joe and Anna Kessel
Comment from Hali Alton, 9/23/06
Jessica I love you hun and i'm way sorry i couldn't come see you in the hospital but i know you are doing good and i'm way happy to hear that. To the rest of you I don't really know you (except Nick) but i do know that you are all doing good and i'm glad to hear that to. Jess and Nick i love you and i will all see you really soon!!!!! Be strong Nick and Jessica i wanna see that big huge smile and hear your adorable laugh really, really soon!!!!!!!
Comment from Jackie Brugler, 9/23/06
Jessica- i love you so much you are sooo cute and funny get well soon so you can take me shopping!
Riley- you are so funny i love you and i just wanna give you a circle hug (you know what im talking about) hang in there ok!
James- you such a dork i love you for that hang in there ok i want to see you soon! love you
Tony- i only met you once but you were pretty cool and i hope you get better way soon! ok i love you
Nick- you are my best friend and a brother to me. i love you with all my heart. hang in there you will make it through. get better so we all can go to your house every day like we used to. i love you nick
Comment from Jo Lynn Simon, 9/25/06
Riley,
Hey Riley I'm glad your ok!!!I hope your doing well to.It seems like you are doing pretty well from what tony had to say when I asked him about you.I know were not close friends,but I still consider you as a friend and I'm praying for you and the others that they are doing well to.I know there are angels watching over you to help you and the others out so just keep looking forward to that and also God!You know that all of your friends are here for you so just remember that ok.If you ever need anything just let me know ok!
Nick,
Hey I just wanted to let you know that I'm praying for you as well as the others to make sure that eveyone comes home safely and that we are all here for you ok!!I hope your doing well.
Love JoLynn
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