A Labette County, Kansas high school student was seriously injured in a car wreck this week. Now the community and a rival high school are helping the family.
On the morning of on January 15, 911 dispatch received a report of a car fire on Highway 59.
That vehicle was Jason Beach's. His car left the roadway, entered a ditch, then struck a tree before catching fire, trapping Beach inside.
Jason's leg was amputated and he received severe burns.
Jason's mother is unemployed and Jason's father is disabled, meaning the 16 year old has no medical insurance to cover his bills.
Beach's school, Labette County High School in Altamont , has raised more than $3,000 for the family.
Now a rival school - Parsons High School - is pitching in as well.
"I had a group of kids say 'I know this guy' and 'is there anything we can do to help'", says Parsons High School Principal Matt Rodgers. "We were thinking long term - collecting stuff, raffling stuff off, one of the kids said 'hey, they may need some money'".
"The schools are so close so a lot of the kids hang out together and grew up together, so we know each other, so it's not really about what happens at sporting events on Fridays or Tuesday, we feel close as a community," says Allison Hudson, the Student Council President of Parsons High School. "I think it really makes us appreciate each other and realize how precious our lives can be and how thankful we are and we just want to do what we can to help."
A counselor already brought the first donation to Springfield.
"According to the counselor they were really amazed and pleasantly surprised," says Labette County High School Principal Mary Anderson.
Jason has been described as a great baseball pitcher and he also like to work a lot with his hands.
"He was great with his hands, he loved to work in the shops, and always respectful and just a hard working young man," says Principal Anderson.
"I'd like to say to Jason we are here to support him and we will keep supporting him," says Austin Ryan, a student at Labette County High School.
"Just to let them know we care about them and we love them, and we want to take care of them," says Principal Anderson.
To make a donation to the Beach family contact Community National Bank in Parsons, Kansas at (620) 423-0314.
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