Crash victim undergoes surgery

By Joe Gerrety
jgerrety@journalandcourier.com

A Purdue University professor who was severely burned in a vehicle crash that killed two of his children underwent surgery Tuesday and could be released from a Chicago-area hospital soon.

Greg Hockerman remains at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., after undergoing major surgery involving skin grafts on both arms, said the Rev. Brad Bush, pastor at Maple Ridge Community Church in West Lafayette, where Hockerman and his family attend.

Hockerman, his wife and three children were involved in a two-vehicle crash near O'Hare International Airport on July 31 and their minivan burst into flames.

Hockerman's daughter and youngest son -- Claire, 14, and Nathan, 5 -- were killed. His wife, Sherry, suffered burns and son Paul, 11, suffered minor injuries. All but Greg, an associate professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Purdue, have been released from the hospital.

"The expectation is that he could be released somewhere between (today) and Saturday," Bush said. "The family has no set day when they would actually come back into the community."

How to help
A fund has been established for the Hockerman family for those wishing to express their condolences in the form of a financial contribution.

Donations can be made at Maple Ridge Community Church. Checks should be made payable to the church and the memo should state "Hockerman fund."

Donations or cards can be mailed directly to the Maple Ridge Community Church, 3504 Morehouse Road, West Lafayette, IN 47906.

The church has invited the public to sign a mural that will be provided to the family after they return home.

For more information, call 497-4509.

During Greg's treatment, Bush said, Sherry and Paul have been staying with relatives in the Chicago area.

Bush said the Hockermans likely will make a decision about a memorial service for Claire and Nathan on Friday.

"We will get that information out into the community as soon as we hear from the family," Bush said.

Meanwhile, an initial court appearance for the man accused of driving drunk and causing the crash was postponed.

Ralph Pollock, 46, of Schaumburg, Ill., was scheduled for an initial hearing Wednesday in the Maywood division of Cook County Circuit Court, but the hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 26. He is being held in the Cook County Jail on a $1 million bond on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.

Pollock is accused of running a red light and crashing his truck into the Hockermans' minivan. Prosecutors have said Pollock had a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent after the crash.

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Last modified: August 23, 2005