September 14, 2009
Blazer involved in weekend car accident
Blair senior Adam Hallberlin was involved in a car accident on Sligo Creek Parkway just before midnight on Friday, according to a letter written by his step-father, Joel Kanter. Hallberlin is currently in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in D.C.
According to Kanter, Hallberlin was driving on Sligo Creek Parkway between Piney Branch Road and Maple Avenue when his car collided with a fire hydrant and his head hit the windshield, causing injuries to his skull and brain. He was not wearing a seat belt, but the two passengers with him, one of whom was a Blair student, were and suffered no serious injuries. Efforts to reach the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) for further information were redirected to the Montgomery County Department of Parks, which refused to provide the accident report for the collision.
Hallberlin went into surgery around 3:30 a.m on Saturday in order to minimize secondary trauma to his brain by reducing pressure and removing bone fragments. According to Kanter, the attending neurosurgeon was Dr. Rocco Armonda, M.D. Armonda is currently the Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuroradiology of the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and a staff neurosurgeon/interventional neuroradiologist at the National Naval Medical Center
According to his family, Hallberlin has showed positive signs of recovery, including conversing coherently and walking. Hallberlin was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital today after spending one week at the Washington Hospital Center. His rehabilitation, both in the hospital and at home, will likely take a number of months.
Currently, only immediate family is permitted to visit Hallberlin, though his family encourages friends and classmates to keep Adam in their thoughts and prayers.
Silver Chips Online is still compiling information, and will post updates as they occur.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 6:10 p.m. on Sept. 14.
Adam (front, center) poses with the golf team at the 2007 fall pep rally. Picture courtesy of Hannah Simon.
Hallberlin went into surgery around 3:30 a.m on Saturday in order to minimize secondary trauma to his brain by reducing pressure and removing bone fragments. According to Kanter, the attending neurosurgeon was Dr. Rocco Armonda, M.D. Armonda is currently the Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuroradiology of the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and a staff neurosurgeon/interventional neuroradiologist at the National Naval Medical Center
According to his family, Hallberlin has showed positive signs of recovery, including conversing coherently and walking. Hallberlin was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital today after spending one week at the Washington Hospital Center. His rehabilitation, both in the hospital and at home, will likely take a number of months.
Currently, only immediate family is permitted to visit Hallberlin, though his family encourages friends and classmates to keep Adam in their thoughts and prayers.
Silver Chips Online is still compiling information, and will post updates as they occur.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 6:10 p.m. on Sept. 14.
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Taking time for every incident with a student would cut back, & already there isnt enought time for all that needs to be learned.
If you dont know by the time that you're in high schol that you HAVE to and NEED to wear a seatbelt, stay on a bike or bus. Dont drive.
Blair is a community. If taking taking 5 minutes of Assembly time to announce that a classmate is fighting for his life in a hospital seems irrelevant to you, think again. Teenagers tend to feel invincible, the very fact that one of your friend may not live because he make the wrong choice that day can make you think a little more next time you drive. The way I see it, this 5 minutes announcement is a life lesson that could eventually save somebody's life...
Isabelle - Parent -
Still praying for the recovery of Adam, a close friend of my son.
Peace
Blair doesnt need to make announcements bc if they did there would be an announcement every day. There are 3000 of us & things happen daily. YES 5 MINUTES DOES MATTER! We are told to not drink & drive, to not speed rive, to always wear ourseatbelts all the time, every day since we are born. We are told it even more when we get our permits and do out driver training hours. MADD will even put a smashed car in front of the school.
I do feel taking 5min is too much.
Decisions are always easier when one does not fully understand the consequences of their actions. No accidents, no close calls, no problems. Why wear a belt?
The assemly was decent, if you feel you could do better please do.
Everyone wear your seatbelt ALWAYS, drive the speed limit ALWAYS, and have a plan after Blair: whether it is MC; Lincoln Tech or TESST Collge training school or Sanz training or Everst training; or 4 y college.
We love you Adam!
agree that the parkway is very curvy, there are NO street lights, and one must drive slowly and ALWAYS wear a seatbelt!
Adam, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Adam & all of us neeed to obey the speed limit & wear our seatbelts.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Blair and to Temple Shalom!
Cheers,
Mr. West
Ms. Weisensee
could we get an updated article about his situation? it seems as if this story has fallen off your radar.