Teen critical after Sunday accident

• Benjamin Cunningham

Benjamin Cunningham

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WORTHINGTON — Seventeen-year-old Benjamin Cunningham of Round Lake remained in critical but stable condition Monday at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., following a crash Sunday night south of Worthington.

According to a Caring Bridge page established by the family on the Internet, Cunningham suffered numerous fractures around his right eye and sight in that eye is “most likely gone.” He also had a main artery severed and a fracture of the spine.

Of main concern at this time is pressure and swelling on his brain. The website stated a portion of Cunningham’s skull was removed during a more than four hour surgery Monday morning to relieve the pressure.

Cunningham, who will be a senior this fall at Round Lake-Brewster High School, had just wrapped up four days of the Nobles County Fair. He is a member of the Indian Lake Progressives 4-H Club.

According to the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office, Cunningham was driving a 1992 Chevy pickup when he struck the wooden portion of a bridge over Lake Ocheda along Nobles County 5. The truck then entered Lake Ocheda and ended up facing the road. The back end of the truck was mostly submerged as rescue personnel worked to free Cunningham from the vehicle.

The Caring Bridge site entry, posted just before noon on Monday, said the next 24 to 36 hours are crucial. Cunningham will likely remain sedated for at least 10 days as the swelling is monitored.

An account for the Cunningham family (Ben is the son of Paul and Miriam Cunningham) has been opened at United Prairie Bank. Donations may be brought to the bank branches in Round Lake, Worthington and Wilmont. All donations will go directly to the Cunninghams.

For more information about the account, contact Barb Bosma or Ryan Weber at (507) 945-8144 or e-mail rdlake@unitedprairiebank.com.

Tags: round lake, news, accident, worthington, cunningham