...for young victim of wreck

By Joe Gerrety, Journal and Courier

The 11-year-old boy injured in a head-on crash Saturday that was caused by a suspected drunk driver still is in intensive care at Riley Hospital for Children.

Micah Potts of Romney was one of four people injured in a two-vehicle crash on County Road 150 West south of Lafayette on Saturday morning.

"This is going to be a very, very, very, very long-term thing," Terry Potts, Micah's father, said Monday evening in a telephone interview from the intensive care unit at Riley. "There has been some damage to the brain -- a couple of small strokes -- and an issue with his carotid artery."

Internal injuries, including damage to Micah's small intestine, have been repaired with surgery. Terry Potts said it will take a couple of weeks for the Southwestern Middle School sixth-grader to recover from that surgery.

Doctors are keeping the head injury stable while that occurs.

News of Micah's injuries and some information about his treatment was shared with his classmates at Southwestern on Monday morning.

"The kids are all concerned and pulling for him," Southwestern Principal Marilyn Ferguson said. She said students were encouraged by the fact that classmate and friend Shane Trader, who also was injured in the crash, returned to school Monday.

"I think it helped the kids to have him back," said Ferguson, noting that Shane walked with a limp from a leg injury.

Suspect released

John E. Dowell, 42, of rural Lafayette, the man accused of driving drunk when he caused the crash, was released from the Tippecanoe County Jail after posting bond Saturday about 12 hours after the 9 a.m. crash.

Dowell had been treated at St. Elizabeth Medical Center for a broken ankle and other injuries.

Micah was a rear-seat passenger in a pickup truck driven by Terry L. Trader, 54, of rural Lafayette, that was struck when Dowell's truck went left of center. Trader and his son, Shane, 11, were treated at Home Hospital and released later Saturday.

Everyone in the Trader vehicle was restrained, and while Micah's seat belt likely caused his abdominal injuries, it also probably saved his life, Terry Potts said.

'2 days of stable'

One Southwestern student brought in a poster board that others were signing and planned to send to Riley to encourage Micah in his recovery.

Ferguson said Micah's outlook should be helpful in the process.

"He's really upbeat and he's always positive," she said. "The kids like him because of that."

Ferguson said Micah drew her a picture last fall containing a Wildcat, the school mascot, and other things related to Southwestern. The artwork is on display on the credenza in her office, along with some other treasured gifts from students.

"This is middle school, so you don't get many of those," she said.

Ferguson said Micah's twin brother, Matt, had his first opportunity to visit Micah on Monday and was not in school. Micah's and Matt's 8-year-old brother, Harley, attends Mintonye Elementary School.

They have an older half-sister, Cori Cain, 25.

Terry Potts said many family members are staying at Riley and lending support for Micah, who has been unconscious since the crash and is being kept sedated.

Terry said it's too early to judge the extent of Micah's brain injuries or predict how long he could be hospitalized.

"At this point, he's stable. With this type of head injury, there's no way of knowing," he said. "We're at two days of stable; no change."