Severe injuries result from Saturday evening accident

    Ron Lock and his grandson, Cooper Goldenstein, age 12, were severely injured in a 6 p.m. accident southwest of Holyoke Saturday, Oct. 28.
    After surgeries at Children’s Hospital in Denver for Goldenstein and at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley for Lock, the pair are on the road to recovery.
    The road could be long, but the duo consider themselves fortunate.
    Goldenstein’s dad, Luke, reported Monday that his son underwent surgery Saturday night for a broken mesenteric artery. Cooper had lost a lot of blood, and Luke said they’re thankful that the Melissa Memorial Hospital staff recognized the severity and sent him on to Children’s Hospital.
    “He’s a trooper,” said Luke of his son, as his injuries continue to be assessed. Cooper was moved from ICU to a regular room around lunchtime Sunday. On Monday, the doctors confirmed that he had a chip fracture in his ankle, and he’s in a boot for that.
    Not sure of Cooper’s release time, Luke said they anticipate he’ll remain in the hospital at least through the end of this week. Cards may be sent to their home address, 730 S. Coleman Ave., Holyoke, CO 80734, to be delivered to him in Denver by local visitors prior to his return home.
    Monday afternoon, Cooper’s mom, Jade, was able to leave her son’s side as she headed off to Greeley to visit her dad at NCMC. Lock suffered multiple fractures, breaking his right hip and both femurs (thigh bones). Additionally, his front teeth were knocked out, and he has a small laceration on his right hand, said his wife, Cindy.
    Ron arrived at NCMC around 11 p.m. Saturday and headed into surgery to repair the hip by 12:15 a.m. Sunday, according to Cindy. Surgery to repair the fractured femurs was scheduled for Wednesday morning, Nov. 1.
    Lock’s stay at NCMC is anticipated to be a week or two, then he’ll probably be transferred to a rehab center for two to four weeks. Cindy said he won’t be able to walk on either leg for three months.
    His address at NCMC for another week or two is 1801 16th St., Greeley, CO 80631.
    Steve Millage was the driver of the second vehicle involved in the accident. He was taken to Haxtun Hospital and released that night with minor injuries, including cuts, bruises and a banged-up shoulder.
    The accident occurred at the intersection of Phillips County roads 20 and 25, 7 miles west of Holyoke and 2 and a half miles south of Highway 6.
    Millage, driving a two-ton single-axle truck, had just hauled corn to the Paoli elevator and was headed back to the corn field, southbound on County Road 25. Lock, driving an F-150 pickup, was eastbound on Phillips County Road 20.
    According to the Colorado State Patrol report by Trooper Barco, Lock’s vehicle left 52.6 feet of tire marks before the front of his pickup struck the rear passenger side of Millage’s truck in the intersection.
    The truck continued south before veering off the left side of the roadway, striking a yield sign on the southeast corner of the intersection. After leaving the roadway, it turned broadside, rolling a half time before coming to rest on its roof, facing west.
    After impact, the pickup continued east through the intersection before leaving the right side of the roadway, still continuing east and coming to final rest on its wheels, facing east.
    Preliminary charges by the CSP cited Millage for failure to yield right of way at an uncontrolled intersection.
    Millage said he remembers his truck rolling but might have been knocked out for a few minutes. He was unable to open his door but could roll his window down and get out of the upside-down truck. He said he called 911 to say where they were and remained on the phone until help arrived.
    Meanwhile, in Lock’s pickup, Cooper unfastened his seat belt and climbed out the sunroof and out the bed of the pickup to walk to the road, according to Jade. From there, he called his mom.
    She said he could tell her right where they were, remaining very calm and with enough awareness to make sure she knew that he had only 1 percent battery left on his cellphone. The Goldensteins arrived on scene at the same time as the sheriff’s office, where extrication was required to remove Lock from the pickup.
    Luke expressed appreciation to all those who stopped by the accident to help and to those who have responded with concern since then.
    Cindy also cited the emergency crew and hospital staff for their expertise in handling the accident. She mentioned doctors Cuccinelli and Wilson, EMT Lisa Werts and Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputy J.R. Myers, who she said was very helpful in giving information to the family about the accident details.