Steve Swisher injured in wreck

(Update: On Tuesday, doctors removed the ventilator and Swisher was able to breathe on his own, according to Sisters School board Chairman Bill Reed. This greatly improved Swisher's comfort. Surgery is scheduled for Friday to pin Swisher's broken hip, which will allow him to be elevated and improve his ability to keep his lungs clear. Reed said that Swisher is progressing far faster than anticipated.)

Steve Swisher, superintendent of Sisters Schools, was involved in a serious auto accident on Friday, September 22 just east of Sisters.

Swisher is in St. Charles Medical Center following surgery on Saturday for extensive chest injuries. He is expected to recover.

On Monday morning, the Sisters School Board met and learned that Swisher had rested well Sunday night, but was still on a ventilator. Injuries to his pelvis and ankle will require further surgery and rehabilitation, but this must wait until his chest injuries begin to heal.

Swisher's pickup and the hay truck

No visitors are allowed in the critical care unit.

"(Steve and his family) know that the entire commnity is thinking about and praying for him," said Jan Martin, Swisher's assistant at the school district, who spent much of the last three days at the hospital and has become an "unofficial" volunteer in the critical care unit where Swisher has his room.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, the call came in about 9:44 a.m. on Friday. Deputies found Swisher's Chevrolet S-10 pickup off the north side of the road at the Circle 5 trailer park at the east edge of Sisters, and a double trailer Freightliner semi-truck in the west bound lane "with extensive front end damage."

Witnesses at the scene said that Swisher was headed east on Highway 20. Another vehicle was stopped in front of him on the highway, waiting to turn left into the Circle 5.

Swisher apparently attempted to go around to the right of the stopped pickup. His truck put at least two wheels in the gravel on the right side of the road.

In bringing his truck back on the pavement, Swisher lost control and crossed the highway into the path of a semi-truck with a load of hay.

"Swisher was lying near the driver's side door where bystanders had removed him fearing that the pickup was catching fire," according to a sheriff's office press release.

The driver of the semi truck was uninjured.

Swisher was conscious at the scene, though he appeared to have extensive injuries to his face and chest according to the sheriff's office, and possible abdominal injuries. Swisher was wearing his seat belt, but his vehicle was not equipped with an airbag.

Sisters EMTs take Swisher to the Airlife helicopter.

Swisher was taken by AirLife at about 10:15 a.m. to St. Charles Medical Center. At about 2 p.m. Swisher was moved out of the emergency room and into the critical care unit.

Swisher's condition was critical, with hip, pelvis, arm and leg fractures, major chest injuries, and major trauma. It was decided to let him stabilize overnight, and perform surgery on Saturday morning.

The surgery, scheduled for four hours, lasted only three and was considered successful when completed at about 12:30 p.m. According to a press release from the Sisters School District, the surgery was "to repair extensive damage to his chest and rib cage."

Following the surgery, Swisher's condition was upgraded by the hospital from critical to serious.

On Monday following the accident, the school board accepted an offer from Dennis Dempsey, Superintendent of the Crook-Deschutes ESD and former principal of Sisters High School, to be temporary Superintendent of Sisters Schools until Swisher returns or another decision is reached regarding leadership of the school district.

There will be no cost to the district for Dempsey's services.

The board also said that Swisher had 225 days of sick leave, and he would be kept on the payroll through his recovery.

Swisher became superintendent of Sisters Schools in 1996.

He is "considered one of the top superintendents in the state," according to a Sisters School District press release.