Fundraiser benefits Cd'A woman hurt in crash

COEUR d'ALENE — A fundraiser is underway to help a Coeur d'Alene woman who was paralyzed in a crash nearly two years ago.

Dave McCullough, father of Tricia McCullough, said she has been accepted at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., a facility that specializes in spinal cord rehabilitation.

To pay program costs, about $350,000, Dave McCullough said they are holding a drawing with $8,000 worth of prizes that include hunting rifles, shotguns and handguns. The drawing is sponsored by One More Time Charity. The firearms were provided at cost by Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Tickets are $100. The drawing is scheduled Dec. 16 during a spaghetti feed and dance fundraiser, $30, at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

Tricia McCollough, 24, is living at a home in Coeur d'Alene and being cared for by family members. She is on the waiting list for Craig Hospital.

Tricia McCollough grew up in Coeur d’Alene. She was studying nursing at Carroll College and was set to graduate with a four-year degree when she left her parents’ home after a 2021 Christmas visit. She was about 30 miles east of Missoula on Interstate 90 in a 2004 Dodge Ram when she hit black ice and lost control.

The truck crashed into the guardrail and overturned. Tricia was trapped, upside down, for about an hour before being rescued and airlifted to Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Her father said she suffered a broken neck, was paralyzed and had a broken arm.

Dave McCollough said his daughter is improving mentally, but physical advances have been scarce.

Hope remains for a full recovery and the family continues to pray.

"There's a lot of new protocol out there," Dave McCollough said. "They're getting people to walk again."

As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe account has raised $134,980.

For tickets, call Dave McCullough, 208-661-1332, or visit Black Sheep Sporting Goods at the Silver Lake Mall.