On July 17th, George C. Powers, 43, of Haslet, TX drove intoxicated in his Ford F-150, traveling west in the eastbound lane of U.S. 82 and colliding head-on with the Ford Escape of Tiffany Starr Thompsen, 24. Tiffany suffered a broken ankle, a fractured skull, damage to her left arm, and has received more than one hundred stitches. Though Tiffany was released from the hospital two days following the accident, the other passengers in the SUV were not as fortunate.
Family members Joshua Siple, 22, and his wife Diann Sipple of Auburn, GA were also in the Ford Escape during the accident. Diann was ejected from the vehicle and passed away at the scene. Her funeral services were held July 21st. Joshua sustained severe injuries in the crash and continues to be hospitalized at United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, TX. Such injuries included massive frontal lobe damage, shattered upper and lower bones, broken ribs, a fractured femur, a torn aorta, and punctured lungs. Joshua remains in critical condition and has been unconscious since the accident. However, doctors are unable to perform necessary procedures. When laid flat, his lungs fill with fluid, increasing the intracranial pressure inside his skull. Joshua continues to take paralytic medications to prevent further injury.
Powers was arrested July 23rd in Fort Worth, TX on charges of DUI manslaughter. According to Luc Siple, Joshua’s father, Powers posted bond and is awaiting trial. Hopefully, this family will receive a quick trial date so Powers can be held accountable for his wanton and willful actions of driving drunk.
A fund has been established to benefit Luc and Oliva Siple for the continuing medical costs of their son Joshua’s treatment. Please help the Siple family in their time of need by making donations at the Peoples Bank in Auburn.
