Two of the children who were injured in a deadly wrong way crash on State Route 52 were released from the hospital Tuesday, a Rady Children’s Hospital spokesperson confirmed.
On the night of Mar. 17, the wife and children of Cathedral Catholic High School (CCHS) basketball Coach Will Cunningham were seriously injured when their family minivan was struck head-on by a driver traveling the wrong way on SR-52.
Mother Alisa Cunningham and the couple’s three daughters -- Jayden, Logan and Taylor, a 17-year-old student at CCHS – were transported to local hospitals and have been recovering ever since.
Jayden and Logan were released from Rady Children’s Tuesday, while Taylor and Mrs. Cunningham remain hospitalized.
The wrong way driver, Santee resident Matthew T. Leonardo, 30, was killed in the crash. CHP officials are investigating whether Leonardo was driving under the influence.
Since the crash, CCHS director of communications Kimberly King has been issuing updates on the family’s recovery through the school website.
On Mar. 19, CCHS students, parents and teachers united for a special mass dedicated to the Cunningham family. That same day, King said Mrs. Cunningham was conscious and Taylor, who was in a coma, had responded to a finger prick in the hospital.
On Mar. 22, a post on the CCHS website expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from the community for the Cunningham family.
The update said Taylor had briefly opened her eyes and Mrs. Cunningham had been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit and was ready to start rehabilitation.
On Tuesday, a countywide fundraiser was held for Taylor and the Cunningham family by the Miss San Diego Pageant & Scholarship Association and Chili’s restaurants.
The fundraiser ran from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. at Chili’s restaurants across the county, with 15 percent of proceeds from sales going toward the family. The donations will help the Cunninghams pay their medical bills.
Taylor is the Miss San Diego Pageant & Scholarship Association’s “Miss San Diego Outstanding Teen” for 2013.
CCHS is accepting donations for the Cunningham family through this website.
Those who wish to donate to the family can also do so at any San Diego County Credit Union branch by writing a check payable to the "Cunningham Family Accident Fund."
For more updates on the Cunningham family, click here.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kimberly King/ CCHS