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Child injured in van crash dies

Death toll rises to three in rollover accident on C-470

John C. Ensslin

Published February 5, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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An 18-month-old boy who was riding in a van carrying missionaries when it was involved in a crash Sunday on C-470 has died, Littleton police said Monday.

Isaac Sward's death brings the number of people killed in the accident to three.

The accident happened about 10 a.m. Sunday just east of South Santa Fe Drive, when a medical condition caused the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee to lose consciousness, Littleton police Lt. Mike Broadhead said.

Both vehicles were westbound.

"The van was in the inside lane; the Jeep was in the outside lane," Broadhead said. "The Jeep driver, we think, had some kind of medical issue. The woman who was with him said he was unconscious.

"The Jeep went off the road, came back and hit the van. The van went sideways and rolled between 31/2 to 5 times," Broadhead said.

On Monday, police identified the Jeep driver as James Jolly, 67, of Highlands Ranch. He was taken to SkyRidge Hospital, where his injuries were described as not life-threatening.

His passenger, Anna Pintos, 61, of Highlands Ranch, was treated and released.

Police identified those who were killed as:

Karin Jordaan, 45, of South Africa; Jessica Pety, 21, of Duluth, Ga.; and Isaac, of Long Beach, Calif. Jordaan and Pety died at the accident scene, and Isaac died at Children's Hospital.

Isaac's parents, Scott Sward, 29, and Andrea, 28, were taken to Swedish Medical Center, where the mother remained in critical condition and the father was listed as "stable" Monday night. Scott Sward was the driver of the Chevrolet van.

Also injured was van passenger Emily Liddiard, 24, of Lexington, Mich., who remained in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital.

The people in the van were members of Mission Training International, and they were headed to a church service in the Denver foothills.

The group had been training in Palmer Lake in preparation for a trip overseas, Mission officials said.

The accident remained under investigation, and Broadhead said it was premature to say whether charges would be filed.

Comments

  • February 7, 2008

    5:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dlmoonitz writes:

    To: John C. Ensslin
    With regard to the crash on c-470, Feb. 3rd:

    I, myself, and many others have been deeply saddened by all of this and are trying to make some sense of it all.
    Is there any more information about the medical condition that caused James Jolly, driver of the Jeep Cherokee that hit the van carrying the missionaries, to lose control of his car? If so, was this a known condition and should he have been driving with a condition that causes loss of consciousness?
    The severity of the injuries is of special concern. What was the year, make and model of the Chevy van? Did the passengers have their seat belts on? Was little Isaac in a car seat? Any information would help us to understand at least a little more about why the passengers sustained such extreme injuries. It's not morbid curiosity, we're just trying to understand how so much personal injury and death could result when car designers have gone to so much trouble to design cars that minimize injury during collisions and roll-overs. We would greatly appreciate further investigative reporting on this horrible crash.

    Thanks,
    Dennis Moonitz, Whittier, CA dlmoonitz@yahoo.com

  • February 17, 2008

    7:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rickdamico writes:

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    To: Dennis
    My name is Rick D'Amico and I am Andrea Sward's uncle. Let me thank all of you for your prayers for our family, your care for our loved ones, and your compassionate service to all of us in the extended family.
    Let me tell you what I know. Everyone in the minivan was seatbelted, including Isaac in his safety seat. The first responders were two off-duty paramedics. They told us that all passengers were suspended by their seat belts upside down. Those seated on the right side of the vehicle were killed instantly. That side of the minivan apparently sustained most of the damage in the rollover. As to Mr. Jolley's medical condition, nothing new to report. The accident remains under investigation, and to my knowledge, Mr. Jolley remains under observation in the hospital.

    I'm not exaggerating when I say that thousands of people have reached out to this family in prayer, with their finances, and with their service in a myriad of ways. From bake sales in Arizona, to garage sales in California, to strangers sending money from around the world, people are reaching out and prayers are being answered. Since you live in California, I'll share this with you. The Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team is holding a silent auction to benefit Scott and Andrea Sward at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on March 22. Please tell anyone who wants to help to be there from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Lunch is provided, they can meet the players, bid at the auction, or just make a donation. My wife and I will be there and we hope to bring good news regarding Andrea's progress at that time.

    In the meantime, God provides. Homes have been opened, cars provided, hotel bills paid, medical care has been superior, healing has begun, shock and grief and numbness and pain are all cycling through each of us, and God is in all of these moments as well.

    This unthinkable loss is not trivialized because we cling to God trusting him to bring Scott and Andrea and all of us through a place none of us wants to travel. If you have lost someone, you know the depths of despair that can overwhelm your heart and paralyze your spirit; you know the guilt you feel for going on with daily tasks or worrying about selfish desires; you know that sense of helplessness that both infuriates and depresses your soul.

    But, God is quietly coming up beside us these days. Some afternoons, I feel his arm around my shoulders. Some mornings, I feel his eyes warming me like silent sunlight through winter windows. I see his face in the faces that bring me conversation, his hands holding a dinner gift, his heart breaking as a father reflects on the wounds dealt to his child.

    I know that He knows all that each of us feels. He is carrying my family and He is caring for my family in amazing ways. And, for now, ... actually, for always, Jesus is enough.

    ~ Love,
    Rick D'Amico

  • February 24, 2008

    9:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rickdamico writes:

    I need to ammend the LA Galaxy FAN FEST information I posted last week. Here goes:

    **The auction is a part of the Galaxy’s FanFest activities, here’s the webpage describing the FanFest: http://ww2.mlsnet.com/t106/fans/fan_f...

    What: Sward Family Auction
    Where: Galaxy’s FanFest, Home Depot Center
    When: March 22 @ 11am - 1pm
    The auction includes soccer, hockey, basketball items and more.

    As of today, I do not believe lunch will be provided, but the concession stands will be open. Also, fans are not guaranteed to meet individual players one-on-one, however the team will be introduced on the stage.

    I want to make sure the most up-to-date information is being communicated and/or posted. Please let me know if you have any questions.