LHS student injured in shop accident

The life of a Libby High School

student, who sustained a serious neck injury during shop class, may

have been spared by a fellow student and from the chance presence

of paramedics who were preparing for a special assembly intended to

inform students of the dangers of drunken driving.

Caleb Lapka, a LHS senior, experienced

severe trauma to his neck and began bleeding profusely as the

result of a lodged metal fragment during his morning shop class.

Early reports said Lapka was injured by a ninja-type star, but that

was dispelled by LHS Principal Rik Rewerts.

“I can correct that right now,” Rewerts

asserted Wednesday afternoon when contacted via his cell phone.

“This was caused by a metal fragment. This was an accident, pure

and simple. There was no malice here, whatsoever.”

The Western News was able to confirm

that Lapka received immediate assistance from classmates who

applied direct pressure to the wound and from others who held him

down until paramedics, who rather fortunately were on scene,

prepared him for transport to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital.

Lapka underwent emergency surgery in

Libby to stabilize him before he was air-evacuated to a hospital in

Spokane, Wash., where he underwent further surgery.

“Certainly, we had a couple of students

who stepped up to do the right thing,” Rewerts said giving credit

to Brook White who reacted quickly to apply her sweatshirt to the

severely bleeding wound.

“I think she may have been traumatized

by the whole thing,” Rewerts said of White. “I just want to

compliment our student body for caring for people in this

most-critical time of need. She really did a great thing. There

were a lot of people involved in this.”

For White, who learned first-aid in her

high school physical education class, said she reacted without

giving her heroics much thought.

“I didn’t even think about it,” she

said. “It was just instinctively, and, no, it wasn’t anything

heroic. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been someone behind

me.

“All I tried to do was keep him

talking; keep him responsive,” said White, who confirmed subsequent

surgery in Spokane.

“I’ve been in contact with his

brother,” she said. “He’s been updating me on his progress. We’re

all hoping for the best.”

Wednesday afternoon, Lapka’s parents

were en route to Spokane to be with their son, Rewerts said.

The paramedics were at the school to

show students the dangers of drunken driving and the impairing

effects of alcohol. The program, called Shattered Dreams, re-enacts

the traumatizing effects that may result of drinking alcohol and

then getting behind the wheel. The assembly was cancelled as a

result of the accident.

Lapka’s condition was unavailable at

press time.