Fundraising and investigation underway after I-94 crash that killed 2, injured 6 (2024)

As investigatorspiece together what led to afatalMondayrolloveron Interstate94 west of Jamestown that killed twochildren and sawsix other peoplehospitalized, efforts have launched to assist the families involved with funeral and hospital expenses, as well as to support thefirst responders who worked the scene.

Andrew Berkey, operations manager and paramedic with Jamestown Area Ambulance, said support is what's needed right now. Berkey was one of the first emergency responders to arrive at the crash scene. In total, nearly a dozen agencies took part in rescue and recovery efforts, as well as beginning the crash investigation and securing the scene.

"I think that the message here, and more importantly, is the focus should be supporting that family and those first responders that were out there," Berkey said.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said that for first responders, scenes involving deceased children are difficult to deal with on an emotional level.

"That always hits home," he said. "It's probably worse when you have kids. Especially if you have kids of the same age. You know, I mean, you just never get used to it. So it hits the heart. It really does."

Stachia Lawson, 30, of Cleveland, North Dakota, was traveling eastbound on the interstate accompanied by seven childrenranging in age from 5-11 when her vehicle left the road, entered a ditch, rolled and came to rest on its side in a slough shortly before 5 p.m., according to a North Dakota Highway Patrol statement.

The statement didn't specify a connection between Lawson and the children, but a GoFundMe campaign organized by a woman identified as Autumn Rogers stated three of the five children in the vehicle are Lawson's nieces and nephews. The other two children are Stachia Lawson's.

Rogers, who told the Tribune she is the best friend of the mother of the children who died, identified the deceased as 7-year-old Logan and 10-year-old Kamari Lawson. The boys were Stachia Lawson's nephews.

"I'm hoping to raise the money she needs for funeral expenses and medical bills in this horrible time for her family," Rogers wrote on the website.

Since the launch of the campaign Tuesday, more than $6,500 from nearly 60 individual donors was donated by Wednesday afternoon. The site page lists a$20,000 goal.

"I'm just baffled," Rogers said of the donations. "That's unbelievably sweet of everyone."

Another campaign is underway at Stachia Lawson's church. A request for donations to be used for medical and funeral expenses was posted on the Cleveland Seventh-day Adventist Church's Facebook page Tuesday. Donors can designate their gift for either medical or funeral costs, and any proceeds not specifically earmarked will be split equally between Stachia Lawson's and her sister's families,according to the post.

The Patrol's statement saidLawson lost control ofthe 1997 Chevy Suburbanshe was driving after being passed by a semitrailer.

The two boys who died in the crash werediscovered by emergency responders outside the vehicle in a slough, according to the Patrol. Other reports stated five other children and Lawson were able to escape the vehicle and slough either on their own or with the assistance of an unidentified good Samaritan.

Kaiser said there were actually three people who stopped to help prior to first responders arriving. He knows who they are but wouldn't identify them other than to say their efforts were nothing short of heroic, with one performing CPR on one of the children until help arrived.

Berkey said the Suburban was "about three quarters" submerged in the slough that was nearly 9 feet deep at its center.

Lawson and all of the surviving children were transferred by ambulance to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center, according to the Patrol's statement. Lawson, who the statement said suffered serious injuries, was later driven to Sanford Medical Centerin Fargo while a 9-year-old girl who suffered life-threatening injuries was transferred to Sanford by air ambulance.

Messages left by the Tribune with spokespeople at the medical centerseeking an update on Stachia Lawson's condition were not returned. The condition of the 9-year-old girl identified by Rogers as Stachia Lawson's daughter is also unknown.

Rogers said the remaining children have all been treated and released into the care of their families.

Because of demands associated with transporting patients and providing EMS protections in Jamestown, Berkey said he was not among those who discovered the bodies of Kamari and Logan, though he had been part of the slough search team and saw the cooperation among the various first responders.

He said despite constant training among ambulance service personnel and other first responders, each scene brings different physical and emotional challenges.Berkey added he's glad Stutsman County agencies ensure emergency personnel receive the support they need following such incidents,similar to the support given to the families involved in tragedy.

"That's what this is about and I think that's what people should focus on," Berkey said.

Kaiser said it's important for first responders that they're allowed to talk about things in a setting where they're not judged.

"You got to talk about it. To get through it ... if you don't talk about it, then then there is a problem," he said.

Rogers said Kamari and Logan Lawson's mother hopes to hold their funerals next Tuesday.

Obituaries posted online at Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown reports that arrangements are pending.

A third donation campaign is underway at Gussner Elementary School in Jamestown, where Logan and Kamari were students. A post on the school's Facebook page said any donations can be dropped off at the school district's central office and will be forwarded directly to the funeral home to offset costs.