PORT ANGELES — The woman critically injured in a head-on collision that killed a Port Angeles grandmother and her 6-year-old grandson was raised on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Emily Dickens — who was Emily Joner when she lived in Neah Bay and Port Angeles — remains in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with extensive internal injuries, a broken neck and a broken back, said her sister, Kristina Russell.
Emily Dickens, who has been married to her husband, Josh, for six weeks, was a longtime swim coach at William Shore Memorial Pool in Port Angeles before moving to Vancouver, Wash., about two years ago, Russell said.
They were married Sept. 12 at the First Baptist Church in Port Angeles.
Emily and Josh Dickens were both injured in the Sunday afternoon crash on state Highway 112 just west of the U.S. Highway 101 junction.
The couple’s car was struck by a car carrying Mary Wyman, 60, and Theodin Nelson, 6, who both died at the scene.
Wyman was the mother of Port Angeles real estate agent and City Council candidate Brooke Nelson, and Theodin was the son of Brooke and Darrell Nelson.
Darrell Nelson is a police officer in Sequim. The couple also have a daughter, Clara.
Council candidacy
Nelson is running against incumbent Betsy Wharton for Position 4 on the Port Angeles City Council in the current all-mail election that ends Nov. 3.
Dylan Honnald, spokesman for Nelson’s campaign, said Nelson won’t make a decision on whether to continue campaigning until after memorial services on Saturday (see accompanying box).
“They are where you would expect them to be at this point,” Honnald said.
Emily Dickens remained in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was flown after the Sunday crash.
Russell said Emily Dickens was having her third surgery on Tuesday.
“At this point I have lost count of how many organs she has injured,” Russell said.
“She’s getting excellent care, but her liver was shattered to pieces, her pancreas and spleen were badly injured and some internal organs had to be removed, but I lose track of which.
“One of the arteries from her leg to her heart was severed so they had to cut from her bellybutton to her heart to fix that.”
Doctors are still evaluating how to repair Emily Dickens’ neck and back.
She is being kept sedated, because movement of her head could cause her to be paralyzed, Russell said.
Medical expenses
Russell said the family is concerned about the medical expenses for the young couple.
“They were so proud not to have any debt,” she said.
“But they have their apartment in Vancouver, and now all of this.”
A fund has been set up at First Federal as the Josh and Emily Dickens Fund. Any branch of First Federal can accept donations.
Those wishing to send cards or other well wishes should address it to Emily Dickens in care of Kristina Russell, 2210 W. 12th St., Port Angeles, WA, 98363.
“The seat belt caused a lot of her injuries, but without it she probably would have died,” Russell said.
Joshua Dickens remained at Olympic Medical Center in stable condition on Tuesday.
Russell said he has cuts and his lung was injured, but that he might be released possibly next week.
En route to birthday party
The couple was on their way westbound on Highway 112 to visit Steve and Karen Joner — Emily’s parents — to celebrate Karen’s 60th birthday when the wreck occurred about 3 miles from the home.
Russell said her family has been staying in Seattle with Emily, but that their thoughts are also with Mrs. Wyman’s and Theodin Nelson’s loved ones.
“We all want to offer our condolences to that family,” Russell said.
“It was just a horrible accident, a tragedy. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
