Posted on 22 July 2015.
Jerry Alexander is fighting for his life at an Austin hospital after an ATV accident in Hoover’s Valley while his 15-year-old daughter, Kylie, stands by his side. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the cause of the crash, which happened July 18. Courtesy photos
HOOVER’S VALLEY, TEXAS
A
father of seven fights for his life at University Medical Center
Brackenridge after an all-terrain vehicle accident on CR 118 on what was
supposed to be a night of fun with friends, according to family
members.
The driver of the ATV — 36-year-old Jerry Alexander — is
undergoing several surgeries after the accident that happened about
12:30 a.m. July 18 in a rural neighborhood just off Hoover’s Valley Road
in Burnet County.
“We were at home, and he decided to go on the four-wheeler
on a ride with his son’s best friend,” said wife, Denise Alexander.
“He’s ridden with him for a long time, years. It happened so fast.”
Information from the Texas Department of Public Safety about the crash investigation is pending.
An 18-year-old male, who was reportedly a passenger on the ATV, has been treated and released from the hospital.
JERRY ALEXANDER
Jerry Alexander’s sister, Jennifer Seyfried of Cottonwood
Shores, was visiting the family on the night of the crash and was not
aware of the accident until she noticed signs of an EMS response in the
neighborhood.
“He had been gone about 30 to 45 minutes. Denise thought
he’s kind of been gone for a little while, so she said she’d go look for
him, and I stayed at the house in case he shows back up,” Seyfried
said. “As I was sitting there, we saw the helicopter, and I knew
something was not right.”
Emergency crews airlifted Alexander to the hospital in Austin, where he remains on a respirator and is undergoing surgeries.
Alexander, a Burnet High School graduate known as an avid
local youth sports fan, works in the communications and fiber-optics
installation industry.
Friends have set up an GoFundMe.com donation account to help with medical expenses. To donate, click here.
“He is fighting so hard for his life right now. He is a
wonderful man, a loving husband, dad and brother,” said Denise
Alexander, who brought four of the seven children, ages 15 to 20, into
their blended family. “He is stable and doing good, but it’s going to
take a lot of time.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have health insurance on him, and at this point with our income, we don’t qualify for assistance.”
The family awaits word about what happened that night as they find strength through friends and family.
“Our community always comes together, and we really need
it for Jerry right now,” she said. “I just want to thank everyone (who
has donated) and the continued prayers because honestly the good Lord is
the only one who knows how this is going to turn out.”
connie@thepicayune.com