A day after a car crashed through the wooden wall of a Waipio school’s library and computer lab, the school librarian was recovering at the Queen’s Medical Center, and school staff were working to make sure the children feel safe when they return Tuesday.
Phebe Sumida, head administrator at Pearl Harbor Christian Academy, said the librarian had some broken bones in her back and a cut in her liver, making walking painful. But she was in stable condition Friday.
"She’s in good spirits," she said, "but physically her body needs some time to heal."
She said the librarian is going to make a short video to let the kids know she is OK, and the school will hold a service Tuesday to reassure the children of their safety.
The crash took place just before noon Thursday at the Waipio Shopping Center, where the school and church are located.
The driver went from a lane of traffic in the parking lot into the building. Along the way, the car jumped the curb, crossed a sidewalk and crashed through wooden pillars, a metal barrier and a metal bench.
None of the 208 students was hurt.
The librarian, 37, and the driver, a 73-year-old woman, were both taken to the hospital in stable condition.
While school was closed Friday, the staff met and prayed for guidance. They painted the plank covering the hole the size of a garage door and planned to work through the weekend to prepare for school, Sumida said.
"We want to remove any sight of trauma because we’re bringing the kids back," Sumida said. "When they come back on Tuesday, we want them to see that it’s business as usual and we’re taking care of you."
The crash destroyed computers, desks, library shelving and books, but a damage estimate wasn’t immediately available. Sumida said a contractor will have to repair the wall.
