Accident victim still in coma
Columbian student in critical condition after car collision Friday

By Ram Luthra
Staff Reporter

An international student from Columbia is in critical condition after being injured in a car accident Friday night at the corner of Bryant Irvin Road and Calmont Avenue.

Ana Catalina Calderon, 20, is in a coma in the intensive care unit at Harris Methodist Hospital. She has been unconscious for six days. Hospital officials said she is in critical condition. They didn’t release any further information at the request of the family.

Calderon’s family members flew in town on Saturday immediately after hearing of the accident.

Her father, Carlos Calderon, said all members of the family are worried about Ana Catalina’s condition. He said she suffered multiple fractures in the lower back. The doctors can’t determine what will happen to her, he said.

“I don’t know what will happen,” Carlos Calderon said in Spanish. “It is all in the hands of God.”

Carlos Calderon said TCU has been helpful throughout the entire process.

“We have received an enormous amount of support from the university,” he said. “Both students and the administration have come to visit her in the hospital.”

According to the police report, Ana Catalina Calderon was the passenger in a 1987 blue Toyota car. The driver of the car was Wael Kanan. He was driving south on Bryant Irvin Road and collided with a 1996 silver Chevrolet Tahoe. Kanan was attempting to turn left onto Calmont Avenue. William S. Crawford, 17, was driving the Chevrolet northbound on Bryant Irvin Road. The report cited that Kanan failed to yield while turning left on the corner of Bryant Irvin Road and Calmont Avenue.

Kanan, 19, and Ana Catalina Calderon were both immediately transported to the hospital. Kanan has been released from the hospital and could not be reached for comment. Crawford was not injured.

John Singleton, director of International Student Services, couldn’t be reached, despite numerous attempts. However, family members confirmed that Singleton has made numerous visits to the hospital and has been very helpful.

Ana Catalina Calderon, in her first semester at TCU, was taking two hours in the Intensive English Program.

Her father said she came to TCU to learn English.

Ram Luthra
r.d.luthra@student.tcu.edu