Local firefighters and police officers will oppose one another in a heated game of basketball early next month, but regardless of the outcome, they will be united in their desire to help a local girl severely injured in a two-car crash Sept. 4.
West Knox Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter Steve Duncum, and others, are organizing a "Policemen vs. Firemen" benefit basketball game, scheduled for Tues., Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m. at Lynn Camp High School. Proceeds of the game will go to help seven-year-old Jazlyn Collier, a student a Central Elementary School. Collier was hospitalized at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville until just yesterday when she was allowed to come home with her mother, Crystal Roberts.
Duncum said though he’s spearheading the effort, classmates of Jazlyn’s father, Terry Collier, are organizing the game to help with the extraordinary expenses the family will incur because of their daughter’s injuries.
"They are sort of in the middle on this … I’m sure they are going to have a bunch of medical bills and regular bills too they have to pay," Duncum said. "We just want to help them. It’s not supposed to be a real competitive game, but you know how men are … it may get competitive."
Duncum said he worries drivers involved in the accident might be uninsured and unable to help pay for medical expenses.
There is no admission to the event, but donations for Jazlyn will be accepted at the door.
Jazlyn was a passenger in a 2003 Grand Am driven by her cousin, Chassidy Wilson, 30, of Gray. Also in the vehicle were Donny G. Wilson, 34, and two other juveniles – also Jazlyn’s cousins. The car was hit by a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by 36-year-old Rachel Hubbard, of London. Police say Hubbard crossed the centerline while traveling south on US 25 just north of Corbin, ramming into the Wilsons’ vehicle. Six people were seriously injured in the crash and were airlifted to regional hospitals for treatment.
Deputies found a half gallon bottle of run in the truck while investigating the crash. Volunteer firefighters on the scene say that marijuana was found in the Wilson’s vehicle. No criminal charges have yet been filed in relation to the accident. Laurel County Sheriff Fred Yaden said evidence would be presented to a grand jury to decide if anyone should be criminally charged.
A family member close to Jazlyn said the girl suffered multiple injuries in the accident including brain swelling, bleeding at her brain stem, a broken jaw and a fractured forehead. Her jaws are currently wired shut and she is receiving only a liquid diet.
"She is doing pretty good. She has a little short-term memory loss. We don’t really know how long that will last," the family member said. "They thought at first her jaw was going to have to be wired for six weeks, but now they think it may only have to be two weeks so that is good. She is expected to fully recover."
Jazlyn was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The two other children in the car with Jazlyn were able to return home the next day. Chassidy and Donny Wilson remain at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and are being treated for their injuries.
Duncum said Tuesday the doctors were hopeful the Wilson’s could be released from the hospital today.
