Funds collected for Bryan crash victims

April 07, 2008 11:04 am

— By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News

Residents who want to help a student and teacher injured last week in a charter bus crash are now able to do so.
A bank account has been established at People’s Bank in Morris for Brittany Pervis, a fifth-grader at Bryan Elementary School and for teacher Amy King.
Pervis and King were the most seriously injured in the charter bus, which flipped on Interstate 59 north last Friday en route to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga on a field trip.
Evelyn Mahaffey of People’s Bank in Morris said the accounts were established on April 1 and donations can be taken at any People’s Bank branch and put into an account for the family.
Ten-year-old Bryan Elementary School student Ashley Mills also wanted to help Pervis, her injured classmate.
On Monday, Mills and her mother, Elizabeth Phillips, distributed about 10 jars at businesses around Morris, Warrior, Locust Fork and Pinson for Pervis, who Ashley called her “best friend.”
Phillips said she was very proud of her daughter for helping her fellow classmate.
Ashley was riding in the bus behind Pervis and King’s bus.
“I was really scared,” Ashley said. “I don’t want to go on a field trip ever again.”
Ashley said she’s less frightened now, but still has to ride a bus to school daily.
Despite Ashley and her mother’s efforts to raise money for her classmate, it hasn’t come without suspicion of her intentions.
Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran said an investigation had been launched by the department into “donations collected by an individual.”
He said that if residents are going to give to the Pervis family, he would prefer that it be done through the bank. He said he didn’t have a problem with what the Mills were doing, as long as it was done right.
“A lot of time in situations like this, the worst in people comes out,” he said. “I’m not saying she’s doing it for the wrong reason, but there are some questionable things that came up.”
Cochran said Elizabeth Phillips had told him the jars would be taken down. However, on Friday, Phillips said her daughter wanted to leave the jars out and there were no immediate plans to take them down.
Bryan Elementary School Principal Debra Campbell said she believes there’s no wrongdoing with what Ashley Mills is doing. She said she thought all the money collected in the jars had been deposited in People’s Bank. As of Thursday, Elizabeth Mills said a little more than $370 had been raised.
Campbell said there had been a tremendous outpouring in the community from students and residents who wanted to help Pervis and King.
“It’s been unbelievable — the phone calls, and the cards,” Campbell said. “I’ve even had parents bring food to the hospital for both families.”
A letter was sent out Friday to students informing them on how to donate if they choose to do so.
Campbell couldn’t comment on the condition of King or Pervis. “They will have a long road of recovery ahead of them,” she said. “We look forward to having them back with us soon.”
Donation jars for Ashley Pervis can be found at the following locations:
• Morris Metro Mart
• White House restaurant in Warrior
• Big Daddy’s Barbecue in Warrior
• BP in Locust Fork
• Swann’s on New Castle Road

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