Family turns to community in wake of tragedy

ORANGE COUNTY- by Haley Bull A family is turning to the community for help after a motorcycle accident killed a woman and left her 14-year old daughter fighting to walk again. Thursday, Ramona Tolman's husband and daughter are speaking out about the accident and what's keeping them going. The rings around Ken Tolman's neck are a reminder of his wife. "Every day was a good memory," he said. "Every single day. Just waking up beside her was the best gift I could ever had. But I'm glad I had that short time with her that I had." Ken and Ramona Tolman married seven years before her life was cut short. Easter Sunday, the couple and Ramona's 14-year old daughter, Jessica Twiner, took a motorcycle ride on FM 1442 in Orange County. Investigators said Ramona lost control on a curve. "I turned to look at them and they left the road," Ken Tolman said. Ramona and Jessica hit a fence and tree. "I ran to them and I knew 'Mona was gone." Tolman said. "So I had to concentrate on Jessie." "It just happened so fast," Twiner said. "I remember going off the road and waking up on the ground to Kenny being next to me, first thing that came to mind was my mom. So I tried to get up to go see if she was okay." Ramona died at the scene. Jessica was severely injured. Tolman said the teen had a shattered pelvis, severe nerve damage to her left leg, broken ribs, a broken tail bone, a punctured lung, bladder injuries, internal bruising and bleeding. "For her to be sitting here today beside me and able to go and do basic things that we thought she wouldn't you know, the doctor said she wouldn't be able to do, it is a true miracle," Tolman said. After a more than 12-hour surgery and three months in hospitals, the teen is home. "Many doctors said I wouldn't be able to get out of bed by myself and I'm doing it," Twiner said. She has a dozen medications to take, gets around with a wheelchair and has severe nerve damage to her left leg, but is determined to walk again. Twiner said the sock on her foot is her mother's. A reminder, a source of strength. "I think it's just that my mom wouldn't want me to give up," Twiner said. She was just three years old when her father, Ramona's first husband, died in an accident. "I didn't know what was going on when I was younger but now I do and just, I have someone that taught me how to deal with it," she said. "God just decided to take really good people and brought them up there to talk to I guess." How to deal with the loss of now two parents, how to keep fighting in the face of tragedy. The Eagle Riders will host a benefit Aug. 2 at the Eagles Club at 803 28th St. in Orange. It starts at 11 a.m. They are looking for auction and monetary donations. For more information on the benefit, contact Tim Martin at (409) 289-4787.