Photo courtesy of Wally Jester - Tom Jester gives a thumbs-up at the 2007 demolition derby, which he won.
A fire engulfed Jester’s car at this year’s derby and burned 50 percent of his body. A man who was injured when his car was engulfed in flames during Sunday’s demolition derby remained hospitalized Monday with 50 percent of his body covered with second- and third-degree burns.Tom Jester, a 53-year-old Helena man, was taken to the University of Utah burn center by airplane Sunday. He was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman.The blaze occurred during Sunday afternoon’s demolition derby at the annual Last Chance Stampede and Fair. According to witness accounts, a transmission line ruptured during the event and sprayed into Jester’s 1978 Chrysler Cordoba, which subsequently caught fire.Jester’s brother, Wally, said the bulk of his brother’s burns were concentrated on his legs and arms. His neck also was burned by the flames, which compromised his airways and injured his esophagus, Wally Jester said.Tom Jester is set to start receiving skin grafts today, his brother said. Jester, who has his wife, Deanna, and son, Jeremy Kendall, at his side in Salt Lake City, will remain at the burn center for a minimum of 60 days.Jeremy Kendall, Tom Jester’s son, was part of his father’s pit crew Sunday.
“That kid jumped about 15 feet over two fences and the tires to get to his dad,” said J.T. Quillin, Jester’s cousin, who was in the stands.The other drivers quickly went after the fire with extinguishers from their vehicles, Quillin said. “Had they not — I don’t think Tom would be with us,” he said. “He was burned from his chin to where his boots laced.”One question some of Jester’s family and others have been pondering is why there wasn’t an ambulance on the scene Sunday afternoon when one had been on hand during the rodeo and every day at the fair since Wednesday.Keith Hatch, manager of the fairgrounds, said it is not common practice to have an ambulance there during the derby, but trained paramedics were on the scene. “We’ve never had an ambulance at the derby — that’s not to say whether right or wrong — we’ve never had one,” Hatch said.The fairgrounds contracted with the Helena Fire Department to have firefighters, including trained emergency medical technicians at the event, he said.Peggy Stebbins, St. Peter’s Hospital spokeswoman, said the hospital donates its services for the fair, and fair management decides which ones are most at-risk of all the events. The hospital’s paramedics were at the fair Wednesday through Saturday overseeing the first aid booth, and an ambulance with personnel was on hand for the rodeo those days, she said.Hatch said those involved with the demolition derby will gather soon to evaluate the incident and see if another such tragic event could somehow be prevented, he said. They also will discuss having an ambulance placed at future derbies.Another question will be whether the risks involved make it worth holding a derby at all, Hatch said.Quillin, who has been competing in derbies for nearly 14 years, said he has never heard of such a horrible fire at an event. “This is one of those things that aren’t supposed to happen that happened,” he said.Quillin quickly added that he is touched by the outpouring of love and support his cousin has received from those in the derby as well as the community.“I had over 43 missed calls when I woke up this morning. There are a lot of people who care and want to know,” he said Monday.Quillin describes his cousin as one of the most fun-loving people he knows.“He’s the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back, no question,” he added.Jester, who works as a truck driver for Associated Foods, made many friends through participating in derbies, Quillin said. Those friends and many others pulled together Sunday and raised about $3,000 to help Jester, including many of the demolition derby competitors’ purses.Tentative plans also are in the works for fundraisers, including a pool tournament and a chili feed. An account to help Jester with his costs will soon be set up at the American Federal Savings Bank.While Quillin said he will not participate in any derbies for the rest of the year in order to help his family, he will continue to compete in the future, adding that it is a dangerous sport with risks.His cousin, on the other hand, was planning on making Sunday’s his last derby.Wally Jester said he spoke just before the derby with his brother, who said he was going to stop participating because he is getting up in years and wanted more time for his family, and also to fish.“He was going to crash his car that he had competed in before, and then give up,” he said.
“That kid jumped about 15 feet over two fences and the tires to get to his dad,” said J.T. Quillin, Jester’s cousin, who was in the stands.The other drivers quickly went after the fire with extinguishers from their vehicles, Quillin said. “Had they not — I don’t think Tom would be with us,” he said. “He was burned from his chin to where his boots laced.”One question some of Jester’s family and others have been pondering is why there wasn’t an ambulance on the scene Sunday afternoon when one had been on hand during the rodeo and every day at the fair since Wednesday.Keith Hatch, manager of the fairgrounds, said it is not common practice to have an ambulance there during the derby, but trained paramedics were on the scene. “We’ve never had an ambulance at the derby — that’s not to say whether right or wrong — we’ve never had one,” Hatch said.The fairgrounds contracted with the Helena Fire Department to have firefighters, including trained emergency medical technicians at the event, he said.Peggy Stebbins, St. Peter’s Hospital spokeswoman, said the hospital donates its services for the fair, and fair management decides which ones are most at-risk of all the events. The hospital’s paramedics were at the fair Wednesday through Saturday overseeing the first aid booth, and an ambulance with personnel was on hand for the rodeo those days, she said.Hatch said those involved with the demolition derby will gather soon to evaluate the incident and see if another such tragic event could somehow be prevented, he said. They also will discuss having an ambulance placed at future derbies.Another question will be whether the risks involved make it worth holding a derby at all, Hatch said.Quillin, who has been competing in derbies for nearly 14 years, said he has never heard of such a horrible fire at an event. “This is one of those things that aren’t supposed to happen that happened,” he said.Quillin quickly added that he is touched by the outpouring of love and support his cousin has received from those in the derby as well as the community.“I had over 43 missed calls when I woke up this morning. There are a lot of people who care and want to know,” he said Monday.Quillin describes his cousin as one of the most fun-loving people he knows.“He’s the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back, no question,” he added.Jester, who works as a truck driver for Associated Foods, made many friends through participating in derbies, Quillin said. Those friends and many others pulled together Sunday and raised about $3,000 to help Jester, including many of the demolition derby competitors’ purses.Tentative plans also are in the works for fundraisers, including a pool tournament and a chili feed. An account to help Jester with his costs will soon be set up at the American Federal Savings Bank.While Quillin said he will not participate in any derbies for the rest of the year in order to help his family, he will continue to compete in the future, adding that it is a dangerous sport with risks.His cousin, on the other hand, was planning on making Sunday’s his last derby.Wally Jester said he spoke just before the derby with his brother, who said he was going to stop participating because he is getting up in years and wanted more time for his family, and also to fish.“He was going to crash his car that he had competed in before, and then give up,” he said.
Ginger and the Jester family, We are praying for you all. If there is anything we can do for you, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK!! We love you.
3 comments:
That is a horrible situation and I am so sorry for that family. They will be in my prayers.
Lollie, I know you don't get a ton of comments but I think it's cause you don't blog often. Please change your comments from "people like me" because no matter what we all love you! That's just silly! I miss you.
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