Published: September 24, 2009 08:50 pm      

Benefit set for accident victim

Man remains in critical condition after power line shock

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