A tragic traffic accident has put a hero in critical condition and a Rowmark student has undergone three surgeries after a fiery head-on crash between their Suburban and another vehicle near Mount Hood, Oregon.

Rowmark Academy coach and driver Scott Veenis is in critical but stable condition today after the Saturday April 9 evening crash. There were six student athletes in the vehicle which burst into flame after impact. Undergoing surgery for a broken leg and additional surgery for three damaged vertebrae was Hank Shipman. He had been seated directly behind the driver.

According to reports the accident occurred on Highway 35 about 5pm Saturday as the team of skiers returned from FIS competition at Mount Hood to their accommodations. They were traveling down the canyon when they were rammed by a vehicle headed up canyon that had attempted to pass a tractor-trailer rig on what was described as “a blind curve.” The athletes said Coach Veenis swerved in order to take the full impact of the crash on his side of the vehicle. He sustained severe leg and pelvic injuries.

According to Oregon State Police spokesman Sgt. Pat Shortt the other vehicle, a Jeep, was driven by  22-year-old Drew Smith. His passenger, Evan Smith, remains in intensive care. The driver was treated and released.

Veenis was airlifted from the scene to Oregon Health&Science University Center. Shipman was airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The remaining five athletes sustained relatively minor injuries including a broken arm, minor concussion and probable broken wrist.

Athletes retrieved a fire extinguisher from the tractor-trailer to battle the flames. In addition to Veenis and Shipman athletes in the vehicle included Hunter Stuercke, Zach Young, Andrew Rutledge, Zach Merrill and Jake Graves.