By Dylan Goforth

Phoenix Staff Writer



A 5-year old boy injured in a crash is recuperating after surgery Monday, and a fund has been set to help pay for his medical bills.

Cash Nichols was one of three people hurt in the crash Thursday in Warner and is listed in critical condition in an Arkansas hospital. Cash’s mother, Jonann Lynn Bell, 38, was listed in critical condition, and Logan Steen, 21, was listed in fair condition Saturday at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. A St. Francis spokeswoman said condition reports were unavailable Monday on Bell and Steen.

The three were injured about 1:40 p.m. Thursday when, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report, Bell failed to yield at a stop sign before crossing Oklahoma 2.

Bell’s 2008  Dodge pickup was struck by a northbound 1991 Peterbilt tractor-trailer rig, ejecting and pinning Cash.

Cash’s aunt, Susie Stuff, said a fund has been set up to help pay for Cash’s medical bills. Stuff said the family was told Cash would be facing a recovery time of six to 12 months.

“He’s a little fighter,” Stuff said. “He’s got a lot of fight in him.”

Cash was transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., where the surgery was performed, Stuff said.

Cash responded to his father’s voice and moved his foot Sunday, giving the family hope, Stuff said. The hospital told the family Cash, who had been unresponsive, had been “double sedated.”    

“It’s so great to hear that,” Stuff said. “He’d been unresponsive, but hopefully that means it was due to the sedation and not the injuries.”

Stuff said the family has been hoping and praying tests will show Cash doesn’t have a significant injury to his brain.

The OHP report states Cash had “head and internal trunk injuries.”

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth

@muskogeephoenix.com.

You can help

Checks to help pay for the medical treatment of Cash Nichols, 5, can be sent to BancFirst, PO Box 1489, Muskogee, OK 74402. Donations also are being accepted at any BancFirst location.

Cash was injured Thursday in a crash in Warner when he was ejected from a pickup and pinned beneath a truck.

A BancFirst spokeswoman said payments made by check should say “For Cash Nichols” on the check.