Survivors say Baker City residents' support 'amazing'

By LISA BRITTON

Baker City Herald

The van crossed the Idaho border about 4:30 a.m. Thursday, moving west through Baker County toward Portland.

The destination for these 16 young adults was a business convention where they would work for 10 days to raise money to support their ministry in Federal Heights, Colo.

“It was just routine for us — we travel all over the country to work these trade shows,” says Nicole Byrd, 25.

She was driving the van.

Byrd and the 15 passengers in the van belong to the Rocky Mountain Masters Commission, a training program affiliated with the New Life Worship Center, in Federal Heights, Colo., about 15 minutes from Denver.

During the nine-month program, the students learn discipleship and leadership by provided free programs — dance, music, sports — for the community’s youth.

“All we do is love on them,” Byrd said. “It’s a community in need of people to love them. We came from our hometowns to make a different in the lives of these kids and their families.”

By working at trade shows and conventions, the students earn enough money to cover the cost of the community programs, plus tuition and housing.

Byrd said they are also raising money to build a community center. All programs are now held in the church basement.

This trip, though, turned from routine to tragic when the van hit ice about 5:20 a.m. on Interstate 84 at Baker City.

The van rolled multiple times, landing on its top.

Two of the 16 people in the van later died.

At St. Elizabeth Health Services, where Byrd and six van passengers were treated and released Thursday, staff member Bob Borders called Nazarene Church pastor Jon Privett to get clothes from the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center.

Nazarene youth pastor Matt Willson was already at the hospital to offer his spiritual support.

The original plan was to set up cots, supplied by the American Red Cross, at the Nazarene Church’s Family Life Center (a designated disaster site) for those who were discharged from the hospital.

But first the seven survivors went to Privett’s home, where the community responded by bringing plates of food and offers of a place for the victims to stay.

“They were traumatized and wanted to stay together,” Privett said.

It was decided all seven would stay with the Privetts, and a nurse stayed all night to help with bandages and medications. This morning everyone woke up to fresh breakfast cooked by members of the community.

Byrd said the response from Baker City reminded her of Federal Heights, where the church family rallies whenever it’s needed.

“That’s exactly what I felt here, even at the hospital,” she said. “The love — they were hurting from our situation.”

The group’s pastors from Colorado arrived this morning, and everyone was heading to Boise to re-unite with those who were flown to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in the Idaho capital.

Also, Privett said any money donated to the Nazarene Church’s hope fund will go to help the group with travel and other expenses.

“Whatever we receive, we will send to them,” he said.

“That’s crazy — you guys are amazing,” said Marketa Smith, 26.

And though they smile at the support from everyone, these young adults are grieving for the two who died — Joshua John Pischura, 20, and Taune Nicole Winter Pepper, 23.

“I still keep waiting for this to be a dream,” said Sarah DeVries, 18. “I’m still waiting for Taune and Josh to walk through that door.”