[pct-l] Annie and The Salesman

["Paul R. Miller Jr." <thebear1@gte.net>]

A note to Ginny, from Hikers Oasis, Kamp Anza.
Annie and the Salesman, and Blake Shepard were in an auto accident the
8th of May, on their way to spend a night here.  They got off the trail
at Pines to Palms highway, we were waiting for a call from them to go
pick them up.  There is a restaurant just about a mile off the trail,
and there is a phone there so hikers can call us.  But the restaurant
was closed, and I guess they did not know the phone was on the porch of
the restaurant, so it can be used even if the restaurant is closed.
Well, a "good Samaritan" gave them a ride and offered to bring them up
here.  When they got to the corner of 371 and Kirby Road, where you turn
to come to Kamp Anza, I guess the guy was paying to much attention to
what was going on in the car, and made a left turn in front of another
car.  Blake was in the back seat, the window by him shattered, and he
got a lot of cuts on his face, Ann and Larry, aka "Annie and the
Salesman" were in the middle seat, Ann hit her head against the window
by her, and was unconscious for about 5 min.  Larry was not hurt, and he
was the only one who did not have a seat belt on...said he thought his
backpack, which was beside him, kept him in place so he was not hurt,
just a tiny scratch on his cheek.  The driver of the car was not hurt,
but his wife broke her leg.  The car they were in was a Suburban, and
the car that hit them was a Nissan,  thank goodness nobody got more
serious injuries.  Ann was flown by helicopter to Palm Desert Hospital.
Where they wanted to keep her overnight for observation, but she said
no.  Blake was taken to Temecula, where he received stitches in several
places on his face, then he was also released.  A volunteer fireman from
Anza, brought him back up here.  He stayed and got his stitches removed
on Wednesday, and was back on the trail on Thursday.  Annie and the
Salesman, stayed in Palm Desert until Tuesday when Paul made a trip down
to pick them up.  They stayed Tuesday afternoon and night, then were up
early on Wednesday to get back on the trail again.  Much against
everyone wishes.  But yesterday, the 19th, we got a call from Ann, they
were in Big Bear already, they went very slow the first two days back on
the trail, stopping for her to sleep every couple of hours.  The third
day her headache was gone, and she has been fine since.  Blake was
expected to get to Big Bear today.  So I guess all is well that ends
well, and maybe the roads are more dangerous then the trail.
That is the latest update.  Paul & Pat...Hikers Oasis...Kamp Anza.
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