Lanagan Couple Recovering From Injuries After Wreck

A local couple is recovering after their car was dragged under the trailer of a tractor-trailer almost two weeks ago.

Anderson resident Carla Cowgur is doing pretty well considering the circumstances, said her daughter, Hope Vanderpool.

The wreck took place on March 3, just outside Lanagan.

Cowgur and her fiancé, Rodney Kahle, were traveling to his house to check on the animals and pick up his truck, Vanderpool said.

He lives off Highway EE, so they were ready to make the turn, Vanderpool said.

“They both remember the semi coming around the corner on their side,” Vanderpool reported. Kahle thought the semi might be going around 80 miles per hour.

Kahle saw the trailer of the semi start to tip over, so he turned the steering wheel as far as he could to the right.

“And it still got them,” Vanderpool said. “They were dragged under the trailer of the semi. My mom said she remembers the

sound of the car sliding down under the trailer.”

Cowgur was taken to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, with a broken neck and back and eight broken ribs. She underwent surgery the following day, which went well, Vanderpool reported. Her mom will be in a neck and back brace for a couple of months. Kahle is also recovering. He has had multiple surgeries on his left hand and arm, as well as skin grafting. He was taken to University of Kansas Hospital after being at a Joplin facility for about four hours, Vanderpool said.

Pineville, Noel and Anderson Fire Departments and Freeman EMS responded to the accident.