A COMMUNITY is coming together to support their pastor after a tragic train accident left him and his son hurt and killed his two young daughters.
Chad Fryar, 37, is out of the hospital following the horrific incident while his son, Bo Henry, is at Arkansas Children's Hospital being treated for unspecified injuries.
4
4
The family was driving across train tracks in Clark County on May 27 when a train hit the passenger side and dragged their truck about half a mile.
Fryar's daughters, Marlee Jo and Dana Kate Fryar did not survive the accident - his wife, Rachel, was home at the time.
Fryar is a pastor at Crossroads Cowboy Church in Bismarck and his congregation released a statement after the crash, mourning the loss of the girls and praying for the family.
"We are devasted by [the] tragic events and the loss of Marlee Jo and Dana Kate," read the statement.
READ MORE NEWS
"Chad and Bo Henry are stable in local hospitals. Please continue to pray for their healing. Please pray for Rachel as she navigates this loss and ministers to her son and husband.
In an update, it was revealed that Fryar was able to leave the hospital on Monday, May 29.
"Thank you to everyone worldwide that is reaching out and praying! God is working and your prayers are being heard!" it read.
"Pastor Chad was able to check out of the hospital right after our our [sic] services today!"
Most read in The US Sun
According to an Arkansas State Police fatal crash summary, there are crossbuck stop signs on both sides of the track where the crash happened, however, there are no flashing lights or crossing gates to warn drivers of oncoming trains.
Head pastor of Crossroads, Ron Riddle, said Fryar and his wife have become like his own children.
"I cried a lot of tears yesterday," he told the Daily Mail. "Their kids called us Nana and Po."
Riddle said that the family's strong faith and the support of the community have kept them strong during this difficult time.
"While they are devastated, their faith of God is strong it's intact," he said.
The church is also accepting donations to help the family cover any costs that may arise in the weeks and months going forward.
"They will need our prayers and support even more in the coming days and months," read a post from the church's branch in El Paso, Texas.
Police and other local officials are investigating the crash.
According to Union Pacific Railroad, no crew or passengers on the train were injured as a result of the crash.
4
4
