It”s been a rough nine days for the family of Winston Minor, the Starkville Dispatch carrier who was seriously injured Dec. 6 in a crash on Highway 182.
Shortly after the crash, during which Minor”s 2003 Ford Explorer was broadsided by a westbound tractor-trailer, the World War II and Korea veteran was responsive, said longtime friend and fellow carrier Mary Tallent, who arrived on the scene shortly after the crash and spoke briefly with Minor at Oktibbeha County Hospital. But Minor eventually lost consciousness and was transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Minor”s dog, a German Shepherd named Abigail, rode with him while he delivered newspapers and was slightly injured in the crash.
Over the past week and a half, Minor hasn”t responded when relatives have spoken with him, Tallent said. She has been in close contact with Minor”s family, including his wife, Ingrid.
But late last week, Minor finally did respond, Tallent said. Ingrid was talking to her husband about Abigail, who Tallent described as Minor”s “sidekick,” and Minor”s blood pressure suddenly skyrocketed, Tallent said.
“The only time he responded was when (Ingrid) mentioned the dog,” Tallent said.
Minor and Abigail had a special bond. After the crash, the dog was “going crazy” and didn”t want to let emergency personnel close to Minor, Tallent said last week. Abigail eventually let emergency workers remove Minor from his vehicle.
Since then, the dog has behaved strangely, “because she doesn”t know where Winston is,” Tallent said. Abigail is being treated by a veterinarian for the injuries she received in the crash, although it will be another three or four months before she is back to normal, Tallent said.
Minor, meanwhile, was wearing a respirator Monday but could breath on his own, “and he wasn”t doing that before,” Tallent said. He was listed in stable condition this morning in the University of Mississippi Medical Center”s intensive care unit.
Minor is an independent contractor who has delivered newspapers for The Dispatch off and on for nearly 30 years. He contracted with The Dispatch in 1982, then left in 1996 and went to work for Starkville Daily News. He returned to The Dispatch in 2001.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
