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CLEAR Temp: 70 °F Wind: S at 8 mph Saturday, October 4, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 25, 2003 Gymnast makes gains in recovery Wire and staff reports Oregon State University gymnast and Phoenix High School graduate Meghan Jones is recovering quickly from serious injuries she received after being struck by a minivan Saturday evening. She underwent two brain surgeries at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis before being transferred to Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in Portland Tuesday afternoon. Jones is set to have surgery on her broken pelvis at the Portland hospital Friday, said Ed Mayer, Jones’ stepfather and a former Jackson County sheriff’s candidate. "Meghan is a real fighter and has done so well," he said during a press conference in Portland Wednesday afternoon. He said initially doctors were uncertain if she would even survive, but she surprised them all weekend. By Wednesday, she was carrying on conversations with family, who noted a steady improvement in her thought processes, he said. Advertisement "Meghan’s recovery has already been surprising the doctors and her family for the last three days," Mayer said. "It’s too soon to tell what the future holds for her gymnastics, but we have realized that life is more important than any sport." The former walk-on from Medford earned a scholarship by her junior year, which was to begin this year, said OSU head gymnastics coach Tanya Chaplin. "I would love to see it because I know what’s in Meghan’s heart, but right now we’re just focusing on Meghan’s recovery," Chaplin said. "Just being able to see Meghan’s face and talking to her means more than anything at this point in time." OSU teammates picked Jones as the most consistent gymnast in vaults last year. Her struggle for life began Saturday evening when she and friends were hit by a minivan while walking near Reser Stadium in Corvallis. Jones was walking with two friends, both OSU students from Jackson County, from the Beavers’ football game at about 6:40 p.m. when a minivan driven by Myrna Taylor, 45, of Albany, left the road and plowed into them, police reports said. The van hit Jones the most severely, reports said. Her friends, Bryan Austad, 18, of Jacksonville, and Brittany Risser, 18, of Medford, were both treated and released at the Corvallis hospital. Taylor was arrested at the accident on felony counts of assault and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving. She was arraigned Monday in Benton County Circuit Court. On Wednesday, Mayer spoke in support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Noting that Jones’ hospital room is already filled with flowers, he encouraged people to donate to the national organization that works to boost awareness of the dangers of drunken driving and prevent such accidents. "We are here because of a preventable tragedy," he said. Contact the Jackson County Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter at 541-772-3557. The Central Point Rotary Club has set up the Meghan Jones Fund at Premier West Bank in Central Point to help Jones’ family. A gymnast since she was 3, Jones is the daughter of Rich Jones of Ashland and Nancy Mayer of Medford. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times