Fundraising Set for Accident Victims
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Fundraising Set for Accident Victims
MT 43 News Staff
Townsend school volleyball moms and dads will be selling bracelets to raise money for the victims of a September 13 car accident. The bracelets will be sold at Fall Fest as well as at school sporting events and local businesses to support the families, according to Angie Paulsen, one of the organizers.
Alex Bakken, age 13 and Karli Sandidge, age 12, were involved in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) accident with a Nissan pickup truck driven by a 62-year-old Townsend man. The accident happened on Highway 287 at Trailhead View Drive about five miles north of Townsend, according to the Montana Highway Patrol. Bakken was taken to a Billings hospital for her injuries. Sandidge did not survive. The pickup driver was treated in Townsend for injuries. He was not identified by patrol officers due to an ongoing investigation.
Both Sandidge and Bakken played volleyball for the middle school team. Several parents organized the bracelet fundraiser. The bracelets will sell for $5 beginning Friday at the 4:00 p.m. middle school volleyball game as well as at the Broadwater High School football game that evening.
Broadwater school students and parents alike were stunned by the accident that took Sandidge’s life. The community gathered to provide meals to each family and to set up a GOFundMe page which has raised $15,238 at this date.
When Alex Bakken and her mom returned from the hospital in Billings last week they were greeted by a huge crowd at Heritage Park. Townsend Elementary School students lined the entire block and crowded around Bakken’s car with signs welcoming Alex home according to Paulsen whose daughter plays volleyball with Alex. “Alex was so touched she drove back through (the crowd). Kids were shouting ‘We love you, Alex!’ It moved us all to tears,” Paulsen related.
The bracelets will also be available at Deep Creek Pizza Co., 415 Broadway and The Mint, 315 Broadway in Townsend.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Alex Bakken
Image 2 Caption: Karli Sandidge
Image 3 Caption: Welcome Home gathering at Heritage Park. Left to right: Savannah Paulsen, Kimber Cazier, Cydnee Harrell, Molly Hall
Photo Credits: Nancy Marks
