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Outlook improving for teens injured in van wreck By AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings Several teens involved in an early Sunday morning rollover wreck remain hospitalized today, though conditions are improving. Ashland Christian Fellowship teens were returning to Ashland after a 12-day missionary trip to Mexico when a van carrying 12 passengers rolled south of Sacramento, resulting in multiple injuries and the death of Talent resident Jessy Newman, 14. The others in the van sustained mild to moderate injuries, including the driver, ACF youth pastor Jeremy Hascall. According to church member Kim Lewis, who went to Sacramento after learning of the accident, 15-year-old Kelsey Smith is improving after spinal surgery at Sutter Health Hospital in Roseville. "The doctors said things went very well," Lewis said through a telephone interview with The Tidings. "She's experiencing more feeling in her lower body which is a wonderful sign. It's looking much better than it did yesterday. " Smith, daughter of Jeff and Karen Smith of Medford, was one of three teens listed with critical injuries. ACF youths Elisa Rosenlund, 15, and Kayla Heffner, 15 were transported to UC Davis Medical Center with several pelvic fractures and a punctured lung respectively. Rosenlund was updated to fair condition Tuesday and Heffner was reported to be in good condition. No information on when they would be released was available. It could not be confirmed where the students attend school. However, church officials said all the youths were either in high school or entering high school. California Highway Patrol officials are still investigating the accident. According to police repoorts, Hascall, 28, allowed the 1994 Ford Econoline van to drift toward the interstate's right shoulder. Hascall reportedly steered the van left, attempting to reenter traffic lanes. The van then veered across northbound lanes to the center divider. The driver then corrected the van again, leading to the accident, according to Highway Patrol officer Jasper Begay. "This caused the van to slide sideways, eventually overturning and ejecting an unknown number of people from the van," Begay said later adding, "If the occupants of the van were wearing seatbelts, the injuries wouldn't be so severe." Begay said fatigue could have played a factor in the pre-dawn accident. "We're not really sure, possibly a lack of sleep or fatigue, that may be one of the associate factors," he said. Lewis said he will be returning to the Ashland area with ACF Pastor Mark Anderson later today. Church officials said a memorial service has tentatively been set for 12:30 p.m., Sunday, at the request of Newman's mother. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -