At approximately 9:30 p.m. Mountain time, Thursday, September 9, 1999 Fran Crane was involved in a single vehicle accident on I-15 near Cedar City, Utah. She was taken to a local hospital and was then airlifted to Salt Lake City to a hospital equipped with a trauma center. The police found the emergency contact information that Fran carried on her and made contact with one of the people on the list. Walter, Fran's husband, had talked to Fran at approximately 7:30 p.m. and all was well so arrangements were made for him to go to Ojai to meet her Friday morning. When Walter arrived in Ojai, he got the news of Fran's accident, and left immediately for Salt Lake City. Upon arrival at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday evening, Walter visited with Fran. Walter reported that Fran was able to respond to him and knew who she was as well as Walter and successfully completed tests, such as "what year is this?". Walter of course stayed with Fran as much as the hospital would allow. Walter was told Fran would probably be out of the Intensive Care Unit and in her own room on Saturday.

On Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m., Walter received a phone call at his motel summoning him to the hospital immediately. When he got there, he was told that Fran was mistakenly given an incorrect I.V. solution that contained a blood thinner and she would require immediate surgery to counter the effects of this error.

I am sad to report that while Fran survived the surgery, considerable damage had been done to Fran's brain putting her into a coma. Throughout the day and night, pressure built enough to the point that it was evident that her brain had failed. On Sunday morning at 7 a.m., Walter made the decision to make available Fran's organs for donation. After testing was completed to insure the technical definition of brain inactivity, Fran was then able to provide life giving organs to five different individuals throughout the country.

Fran has been my friend for over 13 years. I have ridden with her thousands upon thousands of miles. No one is more saddened by the news than I am. I ask that all of you say a prayer for Fran and her family.

Michael Kneebone