This is the latest information available about Wednesday’s car crash that killed Sister Mary Campbell from Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church and injured OLM Pastor Emeritus Monsignor John Sheridan and Pepperdine University law professor Doug Kmiec. The information is from Cardinal Roger Mahony via OLM as well as Pepperdine University:
Monsignor Sheridan, 94, is in critical condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. “Doctors hopefully have stopped most of the internal bleeding,” Mahony wrote. “They are treating several broken ribs, and they are watching him carefully for signs of infection and/or pneumonia.”
Kmiec, 58, who is currently serving as U.S. ambassador to Malta, also underwent surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA. He is expected to have a full recovery, Pepperdine spokesperson Jerry Derloshon said. His wife Carol has visited him daily. Kmiec should be released within a week.
Sister Mary was killed instantly. She was 75. She has been affiliated with OLM since 1983, including as the school principal and a teacher. A memorial Mass will take place at OLM on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
A blood drive will take place at OLM on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To sign up, call the parish office at 310.456.2361.
The California Highway Patrol received a report at 1:31 p.m. of the single-vehicle collision in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County on Mulholland Highway, east of Stokes Canyon Road. According to a CHP press release, Kmiec was driving the Hyundai Accent traveling westbound on Mulholland in “light traffic.”
“For reasons unknown, the vehicle drifted to the right off the pavement and onto the dirt shoulder where it collided with a drainage ditch,” CHP spokesperson Leland Tang wrote in an e-mail.
The three were returning from a 60th anniversary celebration at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, Parish Manager Peggy Thomas said.
“We can use everyone’s prayers,” she said.
Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton wrote in a statement, “Our prayers go out to the family of Sister Mary Campbell, the students of Our Lady of Malibu School and the entire Our Lady of Malibu community. Sister Mary taught many sons and daughters of Pepperdine staff and faculty over the years and was much loved. Her devotion to her students, her strong faith and compassion will long be remembered. This tragedy has touched the Pepperdine community deeply. We continue to pray for the full recovery of Pastor Emeritus Monsignor John Sheridan and Professor Kmiec.”