WALTON — The Cass County resident who was badly injured in a power line accident last week remains heavily sedated in a Fort Wayne hospital burn unit while friends, family and co-workers organize a benefit breakfast this Saturday in Walton.
A St. Joseph Hospital spokesperson said 29-year-old Jeremy D. Clippard remained in critical condition on Thursday as a result of injuries sustained Sept. 17 when the boom of a crane touched an overhead power line, knocking Clippard from the basket onto the gravel driveway below. He suffered multiple severe burns from the electricity’s entry and exit wounds.
Paul Woolever, Clippard’s good friend and co-worker, got the idea for the breakfast as he thought about the way the community stepped up when he lost an arm in a corn picker accident nearly 10 years ago.
“I was blessed when I had my accident with donations from people,” Woolever said of the 1,000 or so people who showed up to his benefit. “I’m just hoping it works the same way for him.”
Food on the menu for Saturday includes sausage, eggs and biscuits and gravy. Local farmers donated the pigs to be butchered for the breakfast. Woolever said organizers would be preparing food for up to 1,200 people.
A raffle will be held throughout the event. Among the donated items to be given away are jewelry, hats, T-shirts, tractors, guns, gift certificates and grills.
All proceeds from the donations and raffle will go to support Clippard’s family as they spend their days and nights by his side.
Terry Clippard, Jeremy’s father, says his wife has been with their son at the hospital since soon after the accident. Terry, who has returned home just once, says she refuses to leave Jeremy and plans to stay with him until he is released from the hospital. The family has been sleeping in chairs in the waiting room.
Terry said his son would remain in a drug-induced coma until doctors complete a series of skin graft surgeries over the next four weeks. He is expected to be in the burn unit for at least two months before going onto rehab. Surgeries will likely continue for two years or more, Terry said.
“He’s got a long road ahead of him, a lot of operations,” Terry said.
Jeremy sustained fourth-degree burns under both arms. Initially, doctors told the family he might lose an arm and have to be on dialysis, but because he has responded well to treatment, doctors now say they might be able to save the arm. Tests on his kidneys indicate they should be able to function on their own, Terry said.
In a light-hearted moment while medical staff asked Terry and his wife to talk to Jeremy as they brought him out of sedation to ensure he was still responsive, Terry told his diehard Indianapolis Colts fan of a son that the St. Louis Rams would beat the Colts this year.
“His blood pressure went up,” Terry said. “The nurse said, ‘Whatever you’re saying you better quit because you’re making him mad.’”
Terry laughed recalling the moment. He said he planned on attending the breakfast to show his gratitude for all those who had shown support for his son.
“We just appreciate everybody’s prayers, and thinking of him,” Terry said.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com
Want to go?
What: Benefit breakfast and raffle for Jeremy Clippard
When: From 7 a.m. Saturday to whenever the food runs out
Where: Walton American Legion Post 418, 111 S. Depot St. in Walton
Local News
Benefit set for accident victim
Man remains in critical condition after power line shock
- Local News
-
-
Snowless savings: Warm weather lowers expenses
The unseasonably warm temperatures have allowed state and local road crews to perform roadwork usually conducted in the fall, lowered Logansport Municipal Utilities electric usage and saved all departments overtime pay for employees.
-
Logansport sees jump in grad rate
Logansport High School saw its graduation rate jump four percentage points in numbers released this week by the Indiana Department of Education.
-
Officials break ground on $1.1M Eel River Run
Contractors are set to begin work on the mile-long Eel River Run trail in downtown Logansport — the result of more than eight years of planning.
-
Fifth candidate files for county council
A longtime Logansport Municipal Utilities worker and former business owner is the first Democrat to file for county office in the coming primary election.
-
Indy on top of its game: Super Bowl host city earns rave reviews
If praise and adulation could put points on the scoreboard, then Indianapolis had a blowout victory hosting its first Super Bowl.
-
$200K in back taxes owed on Logan mall
The owners of Logansport Mall owe more than $200,000 in back taxes on the building and the land it sits on, Cass County property records show.
-
Logan to pay $21K in benefits payments
The Logansport City Council gave preliminary approval Monday to pay more than $20,000 for seven years of owed retirement payments for a city employee.
-
Two candidates file bids for county council
Two Republicans filed their candidacies for at-large Cass County Council seats Monday.
-
A scientific fellow
Andrew Bever grew up on a sheep farm in Forest, about 40 miles south of Logansport, with a mind that looked at the world more deeply than what’s on the surface.
-
Fed-Mogul says hiring on track
Nearly three months after announcing it would add 94 new jobs, Federal-Mogul in Logansport has filled about one-third of the positions.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Snowless savings: Warm weather lowers expenses
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
