Good samaritans have tragic ending following accident

John Bassetti \ Bowling

I retrieved the following article from the online version of Stars & Strikes’ May issue:

“A Bowling Tragedy” by Juette Holseth:

“I am writing this article in hopes of saving a life — possibly yours.

On Saturday, April 19, two Minnesota bowlers were on their way to the USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas to meet up with 18 other teammates and friends.

Because of the surcharges imposed by most airlines for heavy baggage, these two friends - Ken Vierling and Denny Wardlow - were happy to help their fellow teammates by taking 34 bowling bags with them in an SUV on a 1,700-mile jaunt to the tournament site.

Their trip started out uneventful. The Denver area could have posed a serious problem because of the blizzard they were experiencing but the pair headed south toward Colorado Springs to bypass the mess on Interstate 70. They then turned west on Highway 24, went through a few mountains before getting to flat terrain near Hartsel, Colo.

That is when disaster raised its ugly head.

Fatigue overcame Vierling. He veered to the right, over-corrected and zoomed across the road to the other side — flipping the SUV multiple times. Denny died as he slept in the vehicle. Ken will probably be a paraplegic for the rest of his life. Undoubtedly, the estimated 1,000-plus pounds of bowling balls flying through the vehicle as it rolled is what did the fateful blows to two wonderful people.

If you are driving to the USBC Open Championships, to a league session or anywhere, please secure all bowling bags in your vehicle! For that matter, secure everything in the passenger compartment that could potentially cause serious injury to you or your loved ones.

Will you have an accident like this? Probably not.

Will you have an accident where your vehicle rolls? Probably not.

However, why take a chance if there are other options available?

Ken is on a respirator and has undergone neck surgery. He has a little feeling in portions of one arm - but nothing else. He will have surgery on one hand to reset bones, but is far from complete recovery.

Each day is bringing new trials and tribulations for a wonderful man and his family.

The Wardlow family is also hurting over its loss for this bowling volunteer and dedicated family member, too.

Please keep all of these people in your thoughts and prayers, and do yourself a favor: secure those bowling balls when traveling.”

Juette Holseth is a bowling proprietor and publisher of the Minnesota-based Metro Bowler BNN Newspaper.

A pair of local tournaments are upcoming:

The 46th annual Youngstown Mixed Doubles Tournament starts May 15 at Boardman Lanes. Fee is $24 per couple. For more, call Donna Kincaid (330) 530-2727 or Tony Corradetti Jr. (330) 518-5857.

The 34th annual Mar-Hill Mixed Doubles Handicap Tournament is also slated at Boardman Lanes.

The opening squad is May 29 and the last squad is July 26.

Entries cost $32 per couple. One dollar per entry will go to the John and Judy Bossone Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Call Corradetti Jr. at (330) 518-5857.

In last week’s column, I incorrectly mentioned that June McFate of Bessemer was inducted into the New Castle Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame on June 18.

The date should have been April 18. I must have been thinking of McFate’s first name.

McFate remains active in Ohio leagues, too, such as the Wednesday Morning Homemakers and Variety Mixed, both at Holiday.

Note: My appreciation to R.N. Karen and doctors Glenn Ray and Gilbert Palmer and Co. at the Austintown Emergency & Diagnostic Center for their care in treating my mother, who is hospitalized today.

Maybe it’s a bit of a return for all the days my mother unselfishly sacrificed and patiently sat in doctors’ offices, waiting rooms and recovery rooms for me as a child.

I hope her hospital stay is a peaceful one in the Mother’s Day unit.

bassetti@vindycom