John Ross: Critically injured by wrong way driver
Donation protected
Ch 3 news coverage of crash
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/strangers-rescue-man-in-wrong-way-crash-on-i-40?fbclid=IwAR2MgfrZgZ3FQ5P1N_onwbfwHDeWHMVybYrig_ahdP1cMxJt3e56fSg5KIk
https://www.azfamily.com/news/relatives-of-man-injured-in-fiery-rv-crash-near-flagstaff/article_d4b2c8e6-88b9-11e9-a9bb-47cff8a21a51.html
Update: Johnny Howard Ross is still in the hospital in Flagstaff. He suffered a stroke there and that caused some setbacks on his recovery. He also was given a tracheotomy and has a feeding tube. He is still in critical condition. The family needs all the prayers and help they can get to see that Johnny Howard Ross gets the best care possible. He goes by the name Howard.
Saturday June 1st was my husband Tom's birthday. I woke up a little bit before him and sprang out of bed to sign his birthday card and to put $62 in it because I thought it would be cute to give him $62 on his 62nd birthday.
Also I thought it might be nice to suggest to him that we would go to the casino up near Flagstaff because I know that he enjoys it.
We were almost to our destination when suddenly , we were coming to a standstill and I thought "oh no it's a wreck and our exit is only about half a mile away!". It also crossed my mind to try to drive on the side of the road and go around the debris so we wouldn't be stuck there forever!
I got out and was approaching the mangled flaming car. Flames were bursting out of it. There was a grotesquely smashed orange Kia with a human arm dangling out of it! And flames shooting out of what was the pulverized engine that was flattened like a gnarled accordion.
When I realized there was an arm hanging from the crunched and burning car and I decided not to get too close because I hate to see blood and gore. I said "There is an arm hanging out!" And another man said, "It hasn't moved. She is dead." Shortly thereafter the car started to pop and make exploding sounds. I was terrified! I rushed back to my car to my husband Tom.
By this time Tom was out of the car also and several of us were standing near the scene. We looked over and saw several men attempting to get someone out of the RV. And I said to Tom you're too old to go help. I said you are 62 years old today, it is your birthday and you need to let the young men do the work. I wasn't being mean I just worried for his safety. I was afraid that car so close to the Recreation Vehicle was going to explode!
I didn't see him leave my side but at some point I looked around and Tom was over there at the RV! He was helping the men pry the door open! I started to film again and the car went pop! crack! snap again! I was terrified!
I started SCREAMING Tom!! Tom !! I was really worried for his safety and that he would get hurt and that the whole thing would explode and that debris and shrapnel would go everywhere.
Finally Tom and the other men got the door of the RV pried off. There was an elderly man inside. What to do now? Someone yelled that they could use the door for a stretcher. Someone remembered that they had bolt cutters in their vehicle and ran to get them. Success! The man was out and they carried him to safety across the median next to a huge semi-truck.
I got farther away from the scene myself. But then I started thinking that it was hot and that the man might need water and so I crossed the median and went over there with water. I was covering my face with my arm because I was afraid of what I would see. I mentioned to the people standing there that I was afraid to look and they said he was okay and I looked over and I saw his face and he lifted his head and looked at me. His face was etched with the wrinkles of old age but the wrinkles were filled in with blood and he looked like he was covered with powder. I noticed he had back brace on and broken-in cowboy boots. He looked so vulnerable and lost.
Tom later told me the story of how the the men had all been trying unsuccessfully to pry the RV open. But then someone fetched a wooden board. They finally got the door open with the board. Conrad called out they could use the door for a stretcher. Someone had bolt cutters. Then they got him on the "door-stretcher" and laid him on the ground near the RV. Then they realized the smoke and fire were coming at them. So several men including Tom lifted him up and took him across the median across the west-bound lanes to safety and put him near a semi truck in the shade.
Finally, the troopers and the fire trucks started coming. It seemed too late for the fire. The RV was burnt to the ground. Everything in that RV was gone now!! Perished in the fire that spread from the other car to the RV . An ambulance pulled up to load up the man rescued from the RV.
Then everyone was gone but Tom and the man. He asked Tom to pray with him. He asked about his dog in the RV. Tom had to tell him no one had heard a dog barking, crying or yelping. He didn't want to tell him that the RV was burning up. He told Tom that he had $6,000 in cash in the back of his RV. He said he was moving from California to Texas. We figured that was the elderly man's life savings and now it was gone. He asked Tom to Pray with him.
Tom prayed with him. The paramedics came and took him away. Tom came back over to me and told me all of this. I felt terrible for the man and said if anybody ever needed a GoFundMe page it was that guy. Everything he owned may have been in that RV if he was moving to Texas. The man is about 74 years old and that is a lifetime to have burn up in that RV. And His companion, his dog, was also lost. I found out later that his wife had died just last year and HER ASHES WERE LOST IN THE RV FIRE. (Miraculously the ashes survived the fire and were found in the RV at the LANDFILL).
He lost his dog, his wife's ashes, his RV, his money and everything he had in that RV. He was hurt. And he is still in the hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A woman told us she witnessed the entire thing. She said she saw the lady in the car make right-hand turns across the median and purposefully drive the wrong direction at 85 miles an hour until she plowed into the RV.
I started this Go Fund Me for him. We found out his name is Johnny Howard Ross and he goes by the name Howard. He is in the hospital far from home. He lives in Bakersfield, California but he is in the ICU at Flagstaff, Arizona.
He has had 2 surgeries and a massive stroke. He has a broken leg and a broken pelvis and he suffered a concussion.
And he lost his RV He lost his dog and his money. That can not be replaced. And I don't know if the dead lady who tried to take him out with her had any insurance or what. This is a horrible tragedy. So I am reaching out to help Howard in this way. Nothing will bring back his dog or but knowing humanity cares and that people are here for him will bring him great comfort. And I am hoping he can get the best medical care money can buy to restore him to great health.
Howard is going to need long term care to recover from his injuries. I am hoping this GoFundMe will help aid in his recovery and assist in paying the medical bills.
Thank you!
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/strangers-rescue-man-in-wrong-way-crash-on-i-40?fbclid=IwAR2MgfrZgZ3FQ5P1N_onwbfwHDeWHMVybYrig_ahdP1cMxJt3e56fSg5KIk
https://www.azfamily.com/news/relatives-of-man-injured-in-fiery-rv-crash-near-flagstaff/article_d4b2c8e6-88b9-11e9-a9bb-47cff8a21a51.html
Update: Johnny Howard Ross is still in the hospital in Flagstaff. He suffered a stroke there and that caused some setbacks on his recovery. He also was given a tracheotomy and has a feeding tube. He is still in critical condition. The family needs all the prayers and help they can get to see that Johnny Howard Ross gets the best care possible. He goes by the name Howard.
Saturday June 1st was my husband Tom's birthday. I woke up a little bit before him and sprang out of bed to sign his birthday card and to put $62 in it because I thought it would be cute to give him $62 on his 62nd birthday.
Also I thought it might be nice to suggest to him that we would go to the casino up near Flagstaff because I know that he enjoys it.
We were almost to our destination when suddenly , we were coming to a standstill and I thought "oh no it's a wreck and our exit is only about half a mile away!". It also crossed my mind to try to drive on the side of the road and go around the debris so we wouldn't be stuck there forever!
I got out and was approaching the mangled flaming car. Flames were bursting out of it. There was a grotesquely smashed orange Kia with a human arm dangling out of it! And flames shooting out of what was the pulverized engine that was flattened like a gnarled accordion.
When I realized there was an arm hanging from the crunched and burning car and I decided not to get too close because I hate to see blood and gore. I said "There is an arm hanging out!" And another man said, "It hasn't moved. She is dead." Shortly thereafter the car started to pop and make exploding sounds. I was terrified! I rushed back to my car to my husband Tom.
By this time Tom was out of the car also and several of us were standing near the scene. We looked over and saw several men attempting to get someone out of the RV. And I said to Tom you're too old to go help. I said you are 62 years old today, it is your birthday and you need to let the young men do the work. I wasn't being mean I just worried for his safety. I was afraid that car so close to the Recreation Vehicle was going to explode!
I didn't see him leave my side but at some point I looked around and Tom was over there at the RV! He was helping the men pry the door open! I started to film again and the car went pop! crack! snap again! I was terrified!
I started SCREAMING Tom!! Tom !! I was really worried for his safety and that he would get hurt and that the whole thing would explode and that debris and shrapnel would go everywhere.
Finally Tom and the other men got the door of the RV pried off. There was an elderly man inside. What to do now? Someone yelled that they could use the door for a stretcher. Someone remembered that they had bolt cutters in their vehicle and ran to get them. Success! The man was out and they carried him to safety across the median next to a huge semi-truck.
I got farther away from the scene myself. But then I started thinking that it was hot and that the man might need water and so I crossed the median and went over there with water. I was covering my face with my arm because I was afraid of what I would see. I mentioned to the people standing there that I was afraid to look and they said he was okay and I looked over and I saw his face and he lifted his head and looked at me. His face was etched with the wrinkles of old age but the wrinkles were filled in with blood and he looked like he was covered with powder. I noticed he had back brace on and broken-in cowboy boots. He looked so vulnerable and lost.
Tom later told me the story of how the the men had all been trying unsuccessfully to pry the RV open. But then someone fetched a wooden board. They finally got the door open with the board. Conrad called out they could use the door for a stretcher. Someone had bolt cutters. Then they got him on the "door-stretcher" and laid him on the ground near the RV. Then they realized the smoke and fire were coming at them. So several men including Tom lifted him up and took him across the median across the west-bound lanes to safety and put him near a semi truck in the shade.
Finally, the troopers and the fire trucks started coming. It seemed too late for the fire. The RV was burnt to the ground. Everything in that RV was gone now!! Perished in the fire that spread from the other car to the RV . An ambulance pulled up to load up the man rescued from the RV.
Then everyone was gone but Tom and the man. He asked Tom to pray with him. He asked about his dog in the RV. Tom had to tell him no one had heard a dog barking, crying or yelping. He didn't want to tell him that the RV was burning up. He told Tom that he had $6,000 in cash in the back of his RV. He said he was moving from California to Texas. We figured that was the elderly man's life savings and now it was gone. He asked Tom to Pray with him.
Tom prayed with him. The paramedics came and took him away. Tom came back over to me and told me all of this. I felt terrible for the man and said if anybody ever needed a GoFundMe page it was that guy. Everything he owned may have been in that RV if he was moving to Texas. The man is about 74 years old and that is a lifetime to have burn up in that RV. And His companion, his dog, was also lost. I found out later that his wife had died just last year and HER ASHES WERE LOST IN THE RV FIRE. (Miraculously the ashes survived the fire and were found in the RV at the LANDFILL).
He lost his dog, his wife's ashes, his RV, his money and everything he had in that RV. He was hurt. And he is still in the hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A woman told us she witnessed the entire thing. She said she saw the lady in the car make right-hand turns across the median and purposefully drive the wrong direction at 85 miles an hour until she plowed into the RV.
I started this Go Fund Me for him. We found out his name is Johnny Howard Ross and he goes by the name Howard. He is in the hospital far from home. He lives in Bakersfield, California but he is in the ICU at Flagstaff, Arizona.
He has had 2 surgeries and a massive stroke. He has a broken leg and a broken pelvis and he suffered a concussion.
And he lost his RV He lost his dog and his money. That can not be replaced. And I don't know if the dead lady who tried to take him out with her had any insurance or what. This is a horrible tragedy. So I am reaching out to help Howard in this way. Nothing will bring back his dog or but knowing humanity cares and that people are here for him will bring him great comfort. And I am hoping he can get the best medical care money can buy to restore him to great health.
Howard is going to need long term care to recover from his injuries. I am hoping this GoFundMe will help aid in his recovery and assist in paying the medical bills.
Thank you!
Organizer
Helen Larson
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ