Episcopal Press and News

Bishop Garnier Injured in Accident

Diocesan Press Service. July 6, 1972 [72086]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (DPS) -- The Rt. Rev. Luc Garnier, Episcopal Bishop of Haiti, was seriously injured in an automobile accident in mid-June, and is now recovering at Canape Vert Hospital in Port-au-Prince.

Bishop Garnier, accompanied by the Rev. Alfred W. Rollins, was driving his Land Cruiser from the town of Leogane to Port-au-Prince in flooding conditions when the car was overturned and they were swept into a torrent.

The Bishop suffered a severely cut scalp, badly torn arm, broken shoulder, and injured hip. Fr. Rollins, a member of the staff of the Executive Council in New York, was not seriously injured, and was able to drag the semi-conscious Bishop to high ground.

After a freezing night of suffering, during which the Bishop was aided by tourniquets applied by Fr. Rollins and made from his socks, wounds cleaned with his shorts, a passing police car found both men and a fire truck used long ladders to rescue them.

Bishop Garnier will require extended hospital care and remedial medical treatment, but is directing the work of his diocese from his hospital bed -- even if both arms are now immobilized. His wife is at his side.

Fr. Rollins, who stayed for ten more days to carry out his assignment, had been requested by Bishop Garnier to consult in diocesan planning toward autonomy and economic development.