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Family, friends rally around victim of recent crash

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN

Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:00 PM CDT

Friends and family are rallying around a Galatia woman who received major injuries in a motorcycle crash last weekend.

Jessica Cantrell, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale student, was taken to St. Louis University Hospital on Saturday after the motorcycle on which she was riding was struck by a truck on Illinois 127 near Pinckneyville.

Cantrell was a passenger on a bike driven by her boyfriend, Randy Steinmetz of Harrisburg, when a truck pulled onto the highway in front of them as they were taking part in a charity poker run.

State police said Steinmetz, 30, tried to avoid striking the truck and both he and Cantrell, 24, were thrown from the bike.

The driver of the truck, who was not injured, was cited for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

The couple's friend, Lynne Wilson, said Steinmetz was released from the hospital earlier this week, while Cantrell remains in the hospital on life support.

"It's a waiting game now. The doctors have done what they could do, but she's strong. We're keeping our hopes high that she can come out of it," Wilson said. "Randy is taking it very hard and hasn't left her side since he was released."

Wilson said Cantrell wants to be a teacher.

"She is fluent in several languages," she said. "She's a great person: high-spirited, always joking around, and she is gorgeous with long, brilliant blond hair."

She said friends are organizing fundraisers to help with expenses relating to the medical treatment of both Cantrell and Steinmetz.

"We have to see where the need is greatest. They had to be flown to the hospital and they have lots of medical expenses," Wilson said. "And when she comes out of it, she will have a long road ahead, with months in the hospital."

Donation cans are set up in a number of stores in Galatia and Harrisburg and a benefit is being planned to raise money.

beckymalk@gmail.com927-5633

How to help

Donations to help with expenses related to the medical treatment of Jessica Cantrell and Randy Steinmetz may be made at Shawnee Fitness and ROC One Stop in Galatia and Kroger and Movie Gallery in Harrisburg. For more information e-mail Lynne Wilson at lwilson@hbg.saline.k12.il.us