Support overwhelming for nurse, niece killed in crash
By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer
SPRINGBORO — The deaths of a Spring-boro woman and her 6-year-old niece in a crash Wednesday on Ohio 741 have touched people from the local Rooster's restaurant to the Ketter-ing College of Medical Arts.
In less than a day, the Springboro school district raised $25,000 to help defray $4,400 of funeral costs for Trisha Pons, 27, and Abigail Pons, 6.
At the Kettering Medical Center and medical college, as well as Rooster's in Springboro, workers grieved Friday and collected money to help the family.
"AH three of the (Pons) girls worked here at one time," said Ashley Doherty, a Rooster's worker. "Everybody here is just so in shock."
On Friday, a fund was set up at the KMC Network Credit Union as friends and co-workers remembered Trisha Pons, a graduate of the Kettering College of Medical Arts. She worked weekends as a cardiac nurse at Kettering Medical Center and had just completed her master's degree and certification to work as a nurse practitioner.
"It's a tragedy. She was very focused," said Nancy Klasing, director of cardiac nursing services at the hospital. "She had goals."
Trisha Pons was at the medical school until about 5 p.m. Wednesday — less than three hours before the crash. "We all knew her, we all loved her, and we are all heartbroken," said Charles Scriven, president of the medical school.
Pons and her niece died within an hour of the two-car crash, reported at 7:32 p.m. Wednesday at Ohio 741 and Pennyroyal Road.
Trisha was driving her sisters Elizabeth, 26, and Kris, 24, along with Kris' children, Abigail Pons, 6, and Austin Garrett, 3, in a 2002 Dodge Neon when it collided with a southbound 2002 CMC Envoy.
Austin remained in critical condition Friday at Children's Medical Center in Dayton.
His mother, Kris Pons, about eight months pregnant, was treated at Miami Valley Hospital and released. Elizabeth remained there Friday, listed in serious condition.
Elizabeth Pons is a second-grade teacher at Lakota Local Schools' Adena Elementary School. The other driver, Melissa Balweg, 39, of Springboro, was treated and released.
About 4 p.m. Thursday, school officials put out the word seeking donations to an account at the National City Bank on Ohio 741 in Springboro. By Friday evening, the fund had $37,000 and has been shut down.
"Within 10 minutes, people were at the drive-thru," public information officer Linda Oda said.
