Disabled adult struck by work vehicle at SAVE in Freeburg. Here’s what we know
The condition of a disabled adult struck by a vehicle at SAVE this week is improving, according to Paul Wibbenmeyer, executive director of St. Clair Associated Vocational Enterprises in Freeburg.
The accident happened Monday afternoon, Wibbenmeyer confirmed, when a worker ran into the individual, who uses a walker.
“An accident occurred on our premises in our residential program. It did involve one of our disabled adults who lives here,” Wibbenmeyer said Thursday morning. “It wasn’t a bus that ran into the person. Some of the vehicles we have are kind of like para-transit vehicles ... it was more of a work vehicle, kind of a large van, but not a bus.”
Wibbenmeyer said the individual first was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Barnes Jewish-Hospital in St. Louis. He added the individual had some broken bones, scrapes and contusions.
“The person is doing better. I had spoken with someone this morning and when there’s a room available at the hospital, the person is going to move out of the ICU and into a regular room,” Wibbenmeyer said.
The driver works for SAVE, Wibbenmeyer said.
Chief Mike Schutzenhofer of the Freeburg Police Department said no charges will be brought against the driver.
“We’re treating this as an unfortunate, fluke accident,” he said Thursday afternoon.
Wibbenmeyer added the injured person will return to SAVE once completely healed.
According to their website, SAVE provides community day services to individuals with developmental and other types of disabilities in St. Clair County and promotes the personal and vocational development of people with developmental disabilities and increases their community inclusion.
