Family of teen injured in Woodland crash reports glimmer of good news

A 13-year-old boy continues on life support after a Thursday morning car accident, but family members reported a glimmer of good news.

Everett Bergren responded reflexively to stimulation for the first time since the accident on Saturday, said his great-aunt, Sue Spencer.

The boy’s grandmother, Paula Bergren, was driving him to school on Woodland Avenue on Thursday morning. Police said a pickup truck driven by Hawk Patrick Edwards crossed the dividing line and struck Bergren’s southbound vehicle head-on. Paula Bergren was taken to St. Luke’s hospital, where she died.

Everett Bergren remained in critical condition at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center on Saturday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Spencer said the family got their first encouraging signs on Saturday. “Because it’s a head injury, we just don’t know,” she said. “There is brain activity.”

A Caring Bridge website has been set up for Everett. To visit it, go to caringbridge.org and type in “Everettbergren.”

The service for Paula Bergren is at 1 p.m. today at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave. Visitation is from noon to 1 p.m.

Edwards is being held at St. Louis County Jail on preliminary charges of criminal vehicular operation resulting in death and criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm.

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