Holy Rollers

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Article (http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2003/09/21/news/top_news/c7c1348658a5cd0386256da8000dc256.txt)

A bus filled with 45 Hyles-Anderson College coeds heading to Chicago to do missionary work rolled onto its side and skidded about 25 feet before coming to a stop on Interstate 94 near 159th Street about 10 a.m. Saturday.

As a result of the accident, 35 of the women were taken to six area hospitals, and all but three were released by Saturday night, said college co-president Ray Young.

Young said he had not been able to speak with the bus driver, but Illinois State Police Trooper Mike Karpinski said the driver had reported that "passengers were standing in the aisle, singing and rocking back and forth," causing him to lose control of the bus.

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Karpinski said the accident still is being investigated.

Rachael Briggs and Gretchen Heuverline, the two students who reportedly suffered the most severe injuries, were taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields. The hospital reported Saturday night that Heuverline was sent in fair condition to the University of Chicago Hospitals for treatment of her injured hand and Briggs was in serious condition, improved from critical status earlier in the day.

None of the women who were on the bus were available for comment at the college at 7:15 p.m.

"They are already down for the night," Young said.

Eddie Lapina, college chaplain and assistant pastor at First Baptist Church in Hammond, said the "lady bus workers go to Chicago every Saturday. ... They minister to the kids in the inner city," doing everything from helping with homework or dealing with parents' marital problems, as well as encouraging families to send their kids to First Baptist Church on Sunday.

Lapina said between 800 and 900 students at the college participate in the program, spurring Sunday school attendance at the church ranging from 4,500 to 10,000 students.

"It's one of our favorite ministries of our church," he said. "Pastor (Jack) Hyles started it about 40 years ago."

Men also participate in the ministry. But, Lapina added, "Most of the guys drive up. The girls don't have transportation, so we bus them."