Prineville Teen Recovering From Van Crash
The road to recovery is going to be long for a Prineville teen who was thrown from a van when it crashed early Tuesday morning on the Crooked River Highway south of town.
Crook County sheriff’s deputies say the 15-year-old had been drinking, stole a van and was speeding when it crashed off Highway 27, throwing him nearly 80 feet.
Though deputies did not release the juvenile’s name, family members informed NewsChannel 21, and we learned late Thursday that David Cozart is now listed in fair condition at OHSU in Portland.
“He will never be the same again.” said James Cozart, David’s father, describing serious back injuries, among others. “They said it’s going to be a long road, and they don’t think he is going to walk.”
David’s dad says he is an active teen who had dreams of going to the University of Oregon.
“He was just a vibrant young kid,” said Cozart, “He rode his motocross bike, motorcycles — just whatever he could find to keep him busy in the the little town of Prineville.”
On Wednesday, NewsChannel 21 spoke with the man who’s van had been stolen. He uses a wheelchair and had used the van to get to his dialysis treatments.
“If I can strike a deal with the parents,” said Roger Wollam, “then I’m not going to (hire an attorney), regardless of what the courts say or anything. I’m just satisfied with something to replace it, that’s all.”
James Cozart says he understands what his son did was wrong, but echoed Wollam’s comments, saying we all make mistakes.
“Nobody deserves anything like this,” said Cozart. “My heart goes out to, you know, anybody else in this situation. Whether they are right or wrong, somebody does not deserve this.”
A CaringBridge page has been set up for David Cozart, so all interested can check on his recovery and sign a guestbook.
Family members have set up a fund at Wells Fargo Bank, in David’s name, to help pay for the parents’ expenses in Portland as their son recovers — and set up another fund at the same bank, in Wollam’s name, to help raise funds for a new van.
