Injured NIC coaches recovering
Ryan Collingwood Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 3 months AGO
Bones shattered, muted by a breathing tube aiding his weakened lungs, George Swanson was confined to an intensive care unit bed at Spokane's Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center on Sunday night.
North Idaho College head men's basketball coach Corey Symons slept in a chair adjacent to Swanson. He wasn't about to leave his close friend and chief recruiter that evening. Not in that condition.
Swanson was one of two NIC assistant basketball coaches who cheated death after being struck by a vehicle early Thursday morning while standing along Interstate 90 near the Cheney-Tyler exit, waiting for their disabled vehicle to get pulled off the interstate.
The coaching staff was en route to Portland for a weekend recruiting trip when Symons, driving a Dodge Durango, hit a deer just before 5 a.m., deploying the SUV's airbags and immobilizing the vehicle in the right, westbound lane.
Shortly after a tow truck pulled behind the Durango, illuminating the road with its flashing emergency lights, a westbound Jeep Cherokee swerved right to avoid hitting the tow truck, colliding with the group of coaches who were standing 20 feet away from the road.
Symons and the team's play-by-play radio man, Dick Haugen, luckily eluded the Jeep barreling toward them at 70 mph. It only clipped former NIC hooper and assistant Ameer Shamsud-din, but Swanson, 46, and 29-year-old assistant Chris Kemp weren't as fortunate.
The Jeep directly hit Swanson and Kemp, launching Swanson about 60 feet. Kemp, who suffered a fractured vertebrae and head trauma, was life-flighted to Sacred Heart and Swanson went by ambulance and both were in serious but stable condition. The Jeep's driver was ticketed for inattentive driving.
Kemp was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon and has been resting at home. Symons believes Kemp will be back on the bench for the team's season opener at Portland Community College on Nov. 18.
Swanson, however, has a much lengthier road to recovery after sustaining a broken hip, pelvis, leg and arm. Compounding those injuries are his bruised lungs and contusions.
When NIC sophomore guard Sam Dowd got wind of the accident, around 7 a.m. before class Friday morning, Symons' tone alone conveyed the situation's severity.
"Just hearing his voice tremble as he told me what happened, that was tough," Dowd said. "I immediately starting thinking of what my last words were (to the assistants). That was very rough because we're all so close."
Swanson, who is undergoing a series of surgeries, could return to his usual coaching and recruiting duties during the forthcoming season.
"I guarantee he'll be back coaching as soon as the doctors let him," Symons said. "He's that dedicated."
In the interim, the community has stepped up to help offset the costs of the coaches’ recovery, most of which will be covered by insurance — NIC’s and their own.
On Saturday, two Dutch Bros. Coffee stands in Coeur d'Alene raised a combined $3,000. Various GoFundMe accounts have generated more than $8,000 and Symons also started a fundraising account through Spokane Teacher's Credit Union.
Symons also said Silverwood was gracious enough to give 30 tickets to the program, so the coaches’ families and players could get their minds off the incident.
"It's unbelievable how much this community has backed us through this tragic event," Symons said. "I've been been getting about a thousand calls and getting overwhelming support. We're lucky to be in an area like this."
The coaches had numerous visitors throughout the weekend, especially Swanson, who also had the Medical Lake High School basketball team pay him a visit.
"Sometimes you don't realize how much support you have until something tragic happens," Symons said.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
ARTICLES BY RYAN COLLINGWOOD STAFF WRITER
Expert witness: Toddler died of sudden infant death
COEUR d'ALENE — Pediatric forensic pathologist Dr. Janice Ophoven testified for the defense Tuesday, the final witness in the Heather L. Crawford murder trial.
Denson had troubled history with ex-wives
COEUR d'ALENE — Kelly Pease wasn't the first woman to seek protection from Steven Denson, the man accused of killing the 37-year-old nursing student last week before ending his own life.
Former ITD official resigns
COEUR d'ALENE — Facing felony theft and fraud charges, Idaho Transportation Department business manager Scott Fellom has resigned.