Two weeks have passed since the one-vehicle rollover accident on Almota Ferry Road that resulted in the death of Tanya Guseva and serious injuries to two other WSU students, who were transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho.

Though the death of Guseva cast a pallor over the WSU community, the driver, James P. Monsey, and his second passenger, Allison L. Beach, are showing positive signs of rehabilitation.

“(Monsey) is stable and in good condition,” said Patty Haywood, a nursing supervisor at St. Joseph’s. “He’s no longer in a life-threatening situation and progressing nicely.” Upon hospital arrival, Monsey and Beach were listed in critical and fair condition, respectively. Beach was released from the hospital May 23, though she still required skin grafts. Monsey, however, stayed at St. Joseph’s until Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Haywood said the WSU student was awake and responsive.

Adam Fry-Pierce, a senior communication major and former ASWSU vice president, visited St. Joseph’s throughout the two weeks after the accident to receive updates on Monsey, whom he describes as a close friend.

Fry-Pierce said Monsey is showing remarkable improvement from his condition of two weeks ago.

“He is awake, cognitive and aware for the most part,” he said. “His speech is cluttered from what I hear. He has a hard time forming words. It seems that he knows what he’s trying to say.” Though Monsey’s condition is improving, there is still the matter of brain swelling, several fractured ribs and the likely possibility of future speech and physical therapy, Fry-Pierce said. He said one positive update is Monsey will not be paralyzed.

Kayla Wagner, a senior education major and a close friend of Monsey, said other injuries to Monsey include a 10-inch gash on his left leg, a 3-inch gash on the right leg and a severe road rash across his back.

On Wednesday morning, Monsey was transported to St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Spokane, Wagner said. The rehabilitation process, which includes three to five hours of speech, physical and occupational therapy a day, is expected to last about a month.

Wagner also said she spoke with Beach, the survivor of the accident who rode in the front passenger seat.

“She left me a message the other day that she’s doing well and recovering from surgery well,” she said. “She had a surgery on her shoulder because a piece of the bone fragment got chipped off.” As for legal matters, William Bryan, a Washington State Patrol detective who was present at the scene of the accident, said no developments on whether or not Monsey was speeding have been released. He said the information on his driving speed, which is calculated by assessing the number of times the vehicle rolled over, takes two to three months to receive.

In the collision memo by the Washington State Patrol, alcohol and speeding were listed as the suspected causes of the accident, yet Bryan said it’s too early to make that conclusion as the speed and blood alcohol levels have yet to be established. He said the investigating officer at the scene most likely listed speed and alcohol as possible causes of the accident as it is often the norm in such cases. Charges against Monsey for vehicular homicide are pending, according to the memo.

Wagner said police officers made an attempt to speak with Monsey at the hospital, but were unable to due to his lack of responsiveness and physical state.

A funeral was held for Tanya Guseva on May 27 in Everett at the Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Senior English major Kara Tiernan, who knew Guseva from living together for four years at the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, attended the service for her best friend. She said about 150 people attended the occasion, which included a photo slideshow and Guseva’s boyfriend speaking to the attendees.

Tiernan said she misses her friend, but holds no hard feelings for the driver of the vehicle.

“This kind of thing, people do it all the time,” she said. “I don’t blame him in any way, but this is one of my best friends, so my feelings aren’t very warm, but I hope he pulls through.”
*Kara Tiernan is a reporter for The Summer Evergreen.