Alva Review-Courier -

Two Alva girls were seriously injured in a one-vehicle wreck west of Alva Wednesday afternoon. MaKale Hamil, 11, and MaKenzi Hamil, 9, were transported by Alva EMS to Share Medical Center in Alva and then flown by Air Evac to OU Medical in Oklahoma City. The girls are the daughters of Clay and Tasha Hamil of Alva. Both girls were admitted in stable condition, MaKale with injuries to her legs and MaKenzi with trunk internal and trunk external injuries.

Woods County Commissioner David Hamil, grandfather of the girls, said MaKenzi underwent surgery on Wednesday and her leg was repaired with pins and screws. She has a left wrist fracture, and a small bone in her neck has a superficial fracture. MaKenzi has a possible pelvis injury and some deep bruising in her chest and stomach along with some broken ribs. She also has a temporal bone fracture between her ear and eye. They expect that she will be in ICU for at least a couple of more days.

Hamil said that MaKale got out of surgery late Thursday afternoon. She had a broken right leg earlier this year that was repaired with screws. The wreck caused her leg to break again right below the previous fracture. In addition her left leg is now broken below the knee.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) report, the wreck occurred at 4 p.m. May 31 on U.S. Highway 64, two-tenths of a mile west of County Road 380 or approximately 6.2 miles west of Alva in Woods County.

Allison Galindo, 16, of Freedom was driving a 2005 GMC pickup east on U.S. Highway 64 when, the OHP states, she turned around to the backseat passengers and drove off the right side of the roadway. Allison attempted to steer back onto the roadway, overcorrecting and causing the vehicle to roll one and three-quarter times. MaKenzi Hamil was ejected after the first roll and came to rest 46 feet from where the pickup stopped rolling. MaKale Hamil was pinned for approximately 30 minutes before extrication by the Alva Fire Department.

The other two passengers were Vanessa Galindo, 15, of Freedom and Derrick Galindo, 12, of Freedom. They and the driver were all transported by Alva EMS to Share Medical Center where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

The OHP lists the cause of the collision as inattention with the driver being distracted by a passenger. Everyone was using a seatbelt except MaKenzi Hamil. Trooper Darrin Lancaster investigated the scene assisted by Trooper Jeff Steelman, Woods County Sheriff's Office, Alva Fire Department and Alva EMS.

Lynn L. Martin

Alva EMS personnel work with MaKenzi Hamil who was ejected when the pickup in which she was riding rolled one and three-fourth times Wednesday afternoon. The one-vehicle accident was about six miles west of Alva.

David Hamil said the five were returning from a 4-H trip to Alabaster Caverns. The Galindo kids were coming to Alva briefly to help the Hamils with some chores. Allison helps David Hamil care for his wife. David had a heart attack last September, and his wife Laura had a leg amputated in May.

"I was commenting to my wife, we can't take much more of this, but God doesn't give you more than you can handle. We have great family and friends. Once again, the Alva community has stepped up to the plate like they always do," said David.

A fund has been set up to help the Hamil family with medical expenses at Alva State Bank and Trust Company, 518 College (PO Box 37, Alva, OK 73717). Checks may be made out to the Hamil Family Love Fund. The Bank of Freedom will also accept donations for those injured in the accident.

"I was overwhelmed at the accident scene," said David. "The compassion and kindness shown by all the workers and bystanders was overwhelming.

"Clay and Tasha sure would like to tell everyone thank you for all the care shown and attempts at contact. This appreciation comes from the whole family."