Time is said to heal all wounds. A trip to the Rose Bowl might help, too.
“To go from a bus crash… going to the one bowl game every Husky Band dreams about is amazing,” said second-year alto sax player Nicole Pasia.
Pasia suffered cuts and was in shock when the bus carrying her and more than 50 other University of Washington Marching Band members and staff crashed on the way to the Apple Cup Thanksgiving day.
Husky Marching Band Director Dr. Brad McDavid said 47 of the 52 people on the bus went to the hospital.
Ten suffered injuries McDavid called “serious.”
The Washington State Patrol cited the driver of the charter bus for going too fast in the icy conditions.
The bus skidded off I-90 near George and tipped onto its side.
McDavid said despite the injuries, the “great majority” of the band will make the trip later this month to Pasadena.
The band is scheduled to play at Disneyland, march in the Tournament of Roses Parade, and play in the Rose Bowl, along with the Husky football team.
McDavid said several band members are still too injured to play, but he said they all are expected to make full recoveries from their injuries.
He’s hoping the entire band will be able to make the trip.
The chance to play in Pasadena on January 1 is a good motivator to get healthy, said McDavid, who was director the last time the Huskies played in the Rose Bowl in 2001.
“It’s the stage you want to perform on when you’re a band member,” said McDavid.
UW Band Graduate Assistant Dan Fischer was sitting in the front row of the bus when it crashed.
He suffered a concussion, broken nose, and said he has emotional injuries too.
“I was getting the nightmares… I still occasionally will get dreams and emotions,” said Fischer.
After spending one day in the hospital, he’s been on bed rest at home.
He wants to join the band in California.
“That’s the hope,” said Fischer, “I am feeling better every day.”