Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503130027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The children at Christiansburg Elementary School lost two of their teachers last year - one to a car crash and another to cancer.
Last week, they almost lost a third.
Nancy Machincia, a fifth-grade teacher, was thrown from her van March 2 when she struck a car that had pulled out in front of her. Machincia had left school early that day to pick up her son, who was ill.
The driver of the car, who was uninjured, was charged with failure to yield the right of way. Machincia suffered head injuries and extensive leg damage.
She remains in Roanoke Memorial Hospital's Intensive Care Unit with a crushed heel, splintered legs, cracked kneecaps and a fractured skull.
Her pupils at Christiansburg Elementary remain optimistic.
``A lot of us feel lucky that she's still alive,'' said Matt Harvey, 9.
The teachers are optimistic, too, or at least determined. Determined not to lose another of their own.
``Nancy's a fighter,'' said one of her best friends, fifth-grade teacher Angie Bain. ``I don't know when I've seen teachers rally so much behind a person. Everybody I see now, the first words out of their mouth is, `How is she?'''
There have been so many calls that the Montgomery County Education Association has a telephone hot line in Bain's home that gives daily updates on Machincia's condition.
The number is 381-1425.
``I've stayed up late, past 1 a.m., and I hear [the hot line] clicking on,'' Bain said. ``I know it has really been utilized.''
School guidance counselor Jacqueline Read said school administrators began grief intervention as soon as they found out about the accident.
``I sensed something was wrong, because the teachers were gathered together talking and some of them were crying,'' said 11-year-old Jennifer Turner.
``They've been through this before,'' Read said. Third-grade teacher Emily Bowles was killed last year in a car crash, and librarian Ruth ``Issy'' Williamson died from cancer.
Read called every home of the children in Machincia's class so parents could inform their children of the accident. Read also has spoken to the children as a class, but so far, no one has needed individual attention, she said.
"There is a definite air of concern here,'' said fourth-grade teacher Wilma Cassol. ``Children are resilient, though, and every effort has been made to keep them up to date'' on Machincia's condition.
Machincia's husband, John, has been at his wife's bedside since the accident happened. Their two children, Brad and Jessica, visited their mother for the first time this week.
He said he wants to thank a ``good Samaritan,'' known only as Dillon, who reportedly gave Nancy Machincia CPR on the scene.
``I just want him to know that the family really appreciates what he did,'' Machincia said.
At Christiansburg Elementary, Cassol summarized the atmosphere at the school and the children's wishes for Machincia:
``If happy thoughts and prayers for her will make her better, she'll be just fine.''
by CNB