Duo continuing to improve from bull crash injuries

The blue Subaru station wagon Jack Garner was driving on US 95 near Council, Idaho, sustained heavy damage during a collision with a bull that left Jack and his wife, Doris, injured.

A former LaCrosse resident and her husband continue to improve following a car accident with a bull near Council, Idaho.

Jack and Doris Garner, who were incorrectly identified with the last name Bennett in last week's Gazette, collided with a bull in the middle of the roadway Sunday, Nov. 1, following a visit with family in LaCrosse. Doris is the daughter of Bonnie and Verda Bigsby, and she and Jack were married in September.

Jack and Doris were both taken by helicopter to St. Alphonus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

According to Facebook updates from Doris' sister, Shannon Ellis of LaCrosse, Jack was released Nov. 4 after a brief stint in the ICU. Ellis said he suffered from shoulder pain, a swollen right eye which was black and blue and a concussion.

Ellis' Nov. 3 update on Facebook stated that Doris suffered from a broken vertebra at the base of her skull, a fracture under her left eye and near her nose and a concussion.

She had to have several stitches above her eye and also had several cuts on her hands and her mouth.

She is currently in a neck and back brace and has also been released from the ICU but remains hospitalized.

Following her release, she will likely begin a rehabilitation program.

On Nov. 5, Ellis' Facebook update indicated that it is unknown how long Doris will be in the hospital.

“She should be in her room here at the hospital through the weekend, and we will see after that,” the update read. “Dr. Mayberry says it all depends on insurance where she will be and for how long.”

Ellis said Monday that Jack and Doris were both initially suffering from severe nausea.

“If somebody moved them in bed, they would throw up,” she said.

Ellis said the entire family is thankful they are both alive, and said they are not out of the woods yet.

“They both suffered bruised brains, bleeding in the brain, swelling in the brain. That's scary stuff,” she said. “They are getting better. They have a long road ahead of them, especially Doris.”

According to Jack's account of the accident, which he relayed to family members, it was already dark outside when he and Doris rounded a corner in their Subaru station wagon. The black bull was in the middle of the roadway, and there was no time to stop or avoid the animal. The bull rolled over their vehicle, crushing the car and trapping Doris inside.

After the crash, Jack attempted to get out of the car for about five minutes to reach Doris. With his injuries more severe than he realized, he “went down” outside of the car. A passing motorist came upon the scene not long after and called 911.

Incidents at the scene of the accident are under investigation by the Idaho State Police (ISP) following an apparent altercation with the bull owner and the Adams County Sheriff's police officers who responded to the scene.

According to an Adams County Sheriff's press release, the bull owner, who was identified as Jack Yantis, arrived on the scene with a rifle after being informed that his bull had been hit by a vehicle. The bull had been charging at deputies trying to extricate Doris from the damaged vehicle. The deputies decided to put the bull down in order to safely get to Doris.

“They needed to get them out of that car and get them help,” said Ellis. “They would have died if they had stayed there any longer.”

The incidents which happened when Yantis arrived on the scene have not been described by sheriff's deputies but “it is believed that two deputies and Mr. Yantis all fired their weapons.” Yantis was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Ellis, Jack and Doris were not aware of what was happening at the scene.

“Jack said he remembers hearing some gunshots, but assumed they were shooting the bull. He did not know what was going on,” Ellis told the Gazette last week. “They told him the older man had died and he said, 'no, only Doris is in the car.'”

She also said that Doris has no memory of the accident.

“I don't think Dori even knows about the rancher being shot,” Ellis said. “She doesn't remember anything from that night.”

The investigation is still ongoing, and ISP indicated in a Nov. 5 news release that no comments will be made on the investigation until it is complete.

“The testing of forensic evidence and an investigation of this nature takes time and ISP and the Adams County Sheriff's Office request patience as the investigation process continues. There will not be any information or comments on the evidence involved in this incident until the investigation is complete.”