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Mother of two happy to be alive after losing legs in accident
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CommentThe Napa woman whose legs were crushed when she was hit by a drunk driver Sunday night has a long, tough road to recovery.
Doctors at Queen of the Valley Medical Center operated on Lilian Clark the night of the crash, amputating both of her legs just above the knee, according to her husband, John Clark.
Doctors at Queen of the Valley Medical Center operated on Lilian Clark the night of the crash, amputating both of her legs just above the knee, according to her husband, John Clark.
Clark, 38, is the mother of two boys, 4 and 6. She was pinned between the rear bumper of her car and a 1990 Plymouth driven by Francisco Pacheco, 24, of Napa.
UPDATE: Immigration hold placed on drive in injury crash
UPDATE: Immigration hold placed on drive in injury crash
The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Sunday on South Terrace Drive, north of Shetler Avenue.
After the crash, Pacheco put his car in reverse and sped away from the scene. Neighbors followed him to his house about a block away, where they held him until police arrived and arrested Pacheco on felony DUI, hit and run and driving without a valid license. Pacheco has a prior misdemeanor DUI conviction from January 2007. He is on probation.
After the crash, Pacheco put his car in reverse and sped away from the scene. Neighbors followed him to his house about a block away, where they held him until police arrived and arrested Pacheco on felony DUI, hit and run and driving without a valid license. Pacheco has a prior misdemeanor DUI conviction from January 2007. He is on probation.
He is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bail.
Pacheco does not have auto insurance.
“I have no idea at this time what will be involved in Lili’s recovery. I know there will be months, maybe years of rehab, and she will have to be fitted for prosthesis,” her husband said.
A fund has been set up to help the family with medical expenses and to bring Lilian Clark’s family from Chile, where they live, so they can help out with the children and their family member’s recovery.
Donations may be made at Washington Mutual Bank, 699 Trancas St., Napa, 94558. The account is under the name Lilian Clark and Children.
Clark said that on the night of the accident, his wife had double-parked her car and was putting their sons, Jake and Sam, in their child safety seats.
“She went around to the back of the car to get to the driver’s door. I was right there. I said ‘see you later,’ and within a split second I heard tires screeching and saw this car come roaring down the street about 50 miles an hour and just slam into the back of Lili’s car, pinning her between the two bumpers,” Clark said.
With the impact of Pacheco’s car, John Clark said, “The trunk popped open, and she flew inside. Then, the guy threw his car in reverse and left. Lili just fell to the ground in a heap. The neighbors ran out of the house. I was yelling ‘Call 911.’ They said they already had and asked me which way the guy went. They followed him in their car and found his car parked in front of his house down the street.
“I was holding Lili. She was conscious. All she kept saying was ‘Check the kids.’ Her legs were crushed, and she was just worried about the kids,” he said. “The kids were crying and saying ‘What happened to Mommy?’ The neighbors helped me and we kept the kids from seeing what happened. Just horrific, horrific is the only way I can describe it.”
Doctors amputated her legs that night. “There was no way they could save her legs.” She had over 60 breaks in her bones, Clark said.
Clark said his wife had undergone her third operation on Tuesday. “She knows what has happened. She’s such a strong woman, I just can’t believe it. Like I said, her main concern is the kids.
“They took the tubes out Tuesday and she got to see the kids. They need to know that mom is going to make it. Lili is in good spirits. She feels very fortunate to be alive. That woman is just remarkable,” Clark said.
Lilian Clark is from Chile.
“I met her when I was visiting friends in Chile in 1996. We struck up a friendship which blossomed. I tried everything to get her a visa to live in America. Nothing worked. I was finally successful in getting a fiancé visa. She came to Napa in 1999, and we got married,” Clark said.
Lilian Clark had worked as temporary office employee. More recently, she has been a stay-at-home mom.
Pacheco does not have auto insurance.
“I have no idea at this time what will be involved in Lili’s recovery. I know there will be months, maybe years of rehab, and she will have to be fitted for prosthesis,” her husband said.
A fund has been set up to help the family with medical expenses and to bring Lilian Clark’s family from Chile, where they live, so they can help out with the children and their family member’s recovery.
Donations may be made at Washington Mutual Bank, 699 Trancas St., Napa, 94558. The account is under the name Lilian Clark and Children.
Clark said that on the night of the accident, his wife had double-parked her car and was putting their sons, Jake and Sam, in their child safety seats.
“She went around to the back of the car to get to the driver’s door. I was right there. I said ‘see you later,’ and within a split second I heard tires screeching and saw this car come roaring down the street about 50 miles an hour and just slam into the back of Lili’s car, pinning her between the two bumpers,” Clark said.
With the impact of Pacheco’s car, John Clark said, “The trunk popped open, and she flew inside. Then, the guy threw his car in reverse and left. Lili just fell to the ground in a heap. The neighbors ran out of the house. I was yelling ‘Call 911.’ They said they already had and asked me which way the guy went. They followed him in their car and found his car parked in front of his house down the street.
“I was holding Lili. She was conscious. All she kept saying was ‘Check the kids.’ Her legs were crushed, and she was just worried about the kids,” he said. “The kids were crying and saying ‘What happened to Mommy?’ The neighbors helped me and we kept the kids from seeing what happened. Just horrific, horrific is the only way I can describe it.”
Doctors amputated her legs that night. “There was no way they could save her legs.” She had over 60 breaks in her bones, Clark said.
Clark said his wife had undergone her third operation on Tuesday. “She knows what has happened. She’s such a strong woman, I just can’t believe it. Like I said, her main concern is the kids.
“They took the tubes out Tuesday and she got to see the kids. They need to know that mom is going to make it. Lili is in good spirits. She feels very fortunate to be alive. That woman is just remarkable,” Clark said.
Lilian Clark is from Chile.
“I met her when I was visiting friends in Chile in 1996. We struck up a friendship which blossomed. I tried everything to get her a visa to live in America. Nothing worked. I was finally successful in getting a fiancé visa. She came to Napa in 1999, and we got married,” Clark said.
Lilian Clark had worked as temporary office employee. More recently, she has been a stay-at-home mom.
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GregN. wrote on Feb 7, 2008 7:24 AM:
For those of you who dont understand, Mrs. Clark will probably not be getting ANY help financially from Mr. Pacheco considering he is not insured, and from the sounds of it, is probably not legally here.
My prayers go out to the Clark Family. "
smartypants wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:04 AM:
mominapa wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:06 AM:
NVR Moderator wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:01 AM:
There is nothing in this article about immigration issues.
Comment guideline No. 1 refers to this, stating in part "Keep comments ... focused on the topic in the story." "
blessed wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:47 PM:
MAY GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY IN THERE TIME OF NEED AND HELP THEM STAY FOCUSED ON LILIANS RECOVERY AND THE CHILDREN AND BLESS THEM WITH LOVE AND THE HELP PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY AS NEEDED "
Mr_Napa wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:06 PM:
frenchtoast wrote on Feb 7, 2008 2:19 PM:
richaelsmommie wrote on Feb 7, 2008 5:03 PM:
Disgusted wrote on Feb 7, 2008 10:41 PM:
goodolmom wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:15 PM:
dogbite wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:44 AM:
jcpaz316 wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:34 AM:
All my prayers are with you & yours my dearest friend jm .If you happen to read this I am sending a wire transfer today to the accout listed 2/8/08 I hope that it will assist with what must already be an astronomical amount of medical expenses. or missed work, whatever it may be. I want to help any way i can. NICE PEOPLE
I encourage all of you who read this, PLEASE im begging everyone!get the word out help this family, send any $ amount; ask everyone you see to help out, explain how this young womans life almost ended by a (I'm not being racial) no liscence, not insured, prior DUI, still on probation, cares so much about others that he shows it by fleeing the scene, running for his own freedom while a helpless young mother of two little boys lay brutaly crushed on the street! This person Mr. pacheco not being insured will more than likely have a court appointed (free) Attourney to represent him and never be out a single dime, just loads & loads of time god willing! meanwhile the Clarks are left with thousands in jacked up medical bills and most of all, lilies recovery/rehabilitation and how it effects those sweet little boys, Sam, & Jake. God Bless thanks for reading and once again please help give all that you can even in prayer. "
Rocco wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:58 AM:
GregN. wrote on Feb 8, 2008 12:20 PM:
Probably not! "
Arlene wrote on Feb 8, 2008 12:43 PM:
Jeffersonian wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:42 PM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:45 PM:
Bsant001 wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:16 PM:
NVR Moderator wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:21 PM:
russ wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:19 PM:
Two Cents wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:08 PM:
bobworn wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:10 AM:
Rocco wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:40 AM:
Two Cents wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:07 PM:
Brittanicus wrote on Feb 10, 2008 1:07 PM:
Arizona was first, followed by Georgia & Oklahoma and soon Kansas and Indiana. These states have enacted strict employer sanction immigration laws. Illegal aliens are fleeing these states and giving back jobs to permanent residence and citizen workers. They are heading for moderate states, until they find their State & County treasuries are being depleted?
SO illegal immigrants are rapidly disappearing from these states? SO what! Their are plenty of low-risk prison inmates to remove the broken branches and clear the roads? As to the construction industry, we have hundreds of thousands of permanent residence and citizen labor who can't find a job? The majority of these people would only be to happy, to do the work? Is that they construction industry, farmers and any other business wants to exploit the illegal aliens from other countries? Is it that they want to pay sub-standard wages and no benefits, to put more money in the CEO's pocket?
Whether its the wrecking of the border fence law, or the near bankruptcy of California that relates to the 12 to 20 million illegal aliens occupying our country? We must realize that it is the traitors amongst us, that have brought America to a cataclysmic abyss. I personally have just learned that the highlight, controversial Proposition 187, that would have denied education, health care, social services to all illegal foreign nationals, was dismissed by the superior court. "
Mikeb wrote on Feb 11, 2008 8:28 AM:
justnana wrote on Feb 11, 2008 9:06 AM:
"
opiniagirl wrote on Feb 11, 2008 11:44 AM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 11, 2008 12:57 PM:
Rocco wrote on Feb 11, 2008 2:07 PM:
George wrote on Feb 11, 2008 3:07 PM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 11, 2008 3:34 PM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 11, 2008 3:35 PM:
Reality Check wrote on Feb 11, 2008 4:41 PM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 11, 2008 6:09 PM:
Yes it does seem like George has a chip on his shoulder and anger issues. I will not go to Mr. Clark’s house and tell him that he has a chip on his shoulders because he has more important things to worry about and because I have a bit more respect than you think. Now seriously, don’t you (reality check & George) get tired of blaming all your problems on other people? Seriously, you call me a coward for expressing my thoughts??? I have the right to express my opinion thanks to the IMMIGRANTS that founded this country. Now can we please get back to the REAL issue at hand?
"
skippert wrote on Feb 11, 2008 9:08 PM:
paddy wrote on Feb 11, 2008 9:39 PM:
Rocco wrote on Feb 11, 2008 9:43 PM:
IMHO
"
asahigo wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:47 AM:
two cents wrote on Feb 12, 2008 12:54 PM:
The IMMIGRANTS who founded this country weren't ILLEGALS.
And they had a different mentality about coming to America. They had a desire to be an American.
Not just come here and milk every public assistance program available..
Oh wait, thats right.. we didnt have all those programs then. No ESL programs in school, yet they all learned. No Press 1 for Italian, yet they all survived.
Come on... think about it. "
Blammo wrote on Feb 12, 2008 1:26 PM:
Paisano wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:26 PM:
RubyTuesday wrote on Feb 15, 2008 4:47 PM:
mojaverb wrote on Feb 16, 2008 2:35 AM:
the reason everybody is jumping on the issue of his status as a US citizen is because he should have been deported the first time he had a DUI. I live across the street and am one of the people that chased the him and called 911. The reason nobody is saying anything about double parking is because at night and especially on superbowl night there is no parking on so terrace dr. Mostly because out of three houses that have a 3 to 1 car to driver ratio and fill the street on a nightly basis. The nvpd and sheriffs have both double parked on this street sense it happend, so sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. So I think I'm speaking for most people that live on so terrace dr its not a big deal to double park on this street but it is a big deal when drunk drivers are speeding down our street and putting us and the kids on our street in danger! Maybe its time for speed bumps cause everybody with a CDL should know its 25 mph through residential streets. "
Napan since 1965 wrote on Feb 16, 2008 3:21 PM:
For those of you who are (or are willing to become?) blood donors, we have been successful in scheduling a 3-day "Special Blood Drive for Lilian Clark"! It will be held at the Napa Blood Center, 3230 Beard Road, from 12:30 to 6:30 PM on Tues., March 11, Weds., March 12, and Thurs., March 13.
The success of this drive will assure that if Lilian should need additional blood units for further surgeries at Kaiser-Vallejo, “blood credits” will be available to her that will cancel out any charges for blood that is used!
The additional "plus" to this drive is that the actual blood which is donated will immediately become available for others who are in dire need of emergency transfusions. As we all know, blood banks nationwide have trouble keeping adequate supplies of blood on hand, and it becomes especially critical during the flu season!
So, if you are willing and able to donate, please call for an appointment at 1-888-393-4483 (toll-free)!!! It will tell Lilian Clark that we care about her, and will also increase the blood supply available to others in need.
"
14obama wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:54 AM:
pharper wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:59 AM:
nvchell wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:59 PM: