The prognosis for Ricardo is very bleak.

Investigators have determined that when the utility tractor he was driving down the farm to market road was struck from behind by the elderly couples vehicle, Ricardo whip-lashed and struck his head on the roll over protective structure on the tractor. When the tractor veered sharply, he was thrown over the fender and tire into the ditch. According to the Department of Public Safety officer, Ricardo was thrown eighty-three feet.

He has not regained consciousness and tests indicate no brain activity. His family has come in, and sometime today it is expected that they will take him off life support and let nature take it's course.

There has been a steady stream of people into the office. EMT's, insurance people. Some people assume OSHA will be in shortly. Krl and I talked and I told her I didn't know if OSHA would come in or not because I can only imagine how many workers lose their lives in job related traffic accidents each year.

Rumor had it that the GM and the Plant Superintendent had gone to the elderly couples home this morning to tell them about Ricardo's condition.

It is a somber compound.

There are a few people beating themselves up over the accident. One of them, a former employee of mine who was Ricardo's supervisor is having a difficult time. I told him we make the best calls we can with the information we have available at the time. We aren't allowed the luxury of do-overs. All of this was an unfortunate accident. We aren't the one's in charge.

FATHER, we pray for Ricardo, we lift him and his family up to YOU. We pray for the couple that was involved. We ask YOUR comfort for all.