Waynesburg University good Samaritans remain hospitalized
Waynesburg University is accepting donations on behalf of two of its nursing students who remain hospitalized with injuries they suffered after stopping to assist an injured motorist on Interstate 79 in Greene County on Monday.
The two students, seniors Cami Abernethy and Alissa Boyle, and a faculty member were on their way to Morgantown, W.Va., for clinical studies when they stopped to help 21-year-old Derek Hartzog of Washington, whose Jeep had rolled over in Perry Township at 6:10 a.m. Reportedly, a male nursing student, also was among those to stop.
State police said Hartzog fell asleep while driving south and his vehicle rolled over several times before stopping in the left lane in the middle of an overpass.
All three students and Hartzog had to jump off the 40- to 50-foot-high overpass to avoid being hit by an oncoming tractor- trailer truck. Abernethy, Boyle and Hartzog fell to the ground and were taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. The male student managed to avoid falling by grabbing and holding on to the guardrail, according to reports.
Abernethy and Boyle remain hospitalized and a group of their fellow nursing students have begun raising money to assist the two students’ families.
“It comes as no surprise that our students acted in this way and want to continue to help by starting the fund to support the families,” said Nancy Mosser, Waynesburg University’s nursing department chairwoman. “Our nursing students are caretakers in the truest sense of the word and their goal is to ensure that Cami and Alissa continue receiving the best care possible.”
The university is currently accepting donations on behalf of the Abernethy and Boyle families. Checks should be made payable to Waynesburg University with “Cami and Alissa Fund” written in the memo section. All donations should be sent to Waynesburg University’s Business Office, 51 W. College St., Waynesburg, PA 15370.