Daughter Hit Outside Wren Football Game Released From Hospital

Kristen Randall has been released from the hospital after she hit by a car while crossing the road after a Wren High School football game. She was released Tuesday.  Her father, Scott Randall, says she is doing as well as can be expected.  Her major injuries include a broken right ankle, broken left big toe and road rash.  Her spirits are high given the circumstances, according to her father.  But thoughts are still with the wife and mother the family lost.

Scott Randall says he wife put others first.  As he remembered Gretchen Randall, he told News Channel 7, “She was wonderful… She always enjoyed helping people… She coached softball when she was younger.  She worked in a nursing home when she was in high school.“  Sitting on his family’s porch in Piedmont, Randall and his son Sean remember a woman who gave selflessly of her time.  “She always seemed to want to be there to do whatever she could to help people.  That was her gift,“ says Scott Randall.

Gretchen Randall was a teaching assistant Hunt Meadows Elementary in Easley.  Her family says she worked with special needs children.  Sean Randall says, “My mom was an amazing woman.”
Gretchen and her daughter Kristen were on their way to their car after Wren’s Homecoming game Friday night, when they were hit by a driver who told authorities he just didn’t see them in time.  Gretchen Randall died from her injuries.  Her daughter Kristen, a sophomore at Wren, and a member of the golf team and R.O.T.C is expected to make a full recovery, physically.  Her father says, “She hasn’t really opened up at this point.  She may still be in some shock overall.  Her spirits right now seem to be ok.“ 

Scott says he and Gretchen had just celebrated their 20-th anniversary.  “I didn’t expect it to end this quickly, really,“ he says.  Randall hopes something good can come from the tragedy, saying “Where the accident took place, there are some lighting issues there.  If we could see something be done about that, that might be one good thing.“  On Monday morning the Highway Patrol was on the scene, mapping out the area in the event they later do a re-enactment of the accident.

Sean Randall, a 2009 graduate of Wren High School says heard the news while on duty with the National Guard in Maryland, and he says he is grateful to the SC National Guard who is says has been very supportive of him and his family.  He says he will teach his children the things he learned from his mother.  “No matter what people did, she always saw the best in people.  No matter who they were or what they were doing, she was a caring loving person, and I don’t think I ever heard a bad word from her about anyone.“

The driver has not been charged in the accident.

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Friends and a school family are mourning the loss of a teacher’s assistant who died after she was struck by a vehicle Friday night.

Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said 45-year old Gretchen Randall passed away Friday night at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said a car struck her and her daughter as they were leaving a homecoming football game at Wren High School. Troopers told News Channel 7, the mother and daughter were in the crosswalk at the time headed back to their car when a driver hit both of them.

Randall’s 15-year-old daughter, Kristen, is suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.

Randall’s husband says she loved animals and worked with special needs children. They had just celebrated their 20th anniversary.

Randall was a beloved teacher’s assistant at Hunt Meadows Elementary School.

The school released a statement that read, “Mrs. Randall was a wonderful person.  She was amazing with students and dearly loved by them. 
Her passion for teaching was evident by the fact that she was currently working on her teaching certificate.  We will miss her very much.“

Randall’s last status on her Facebook page reads, “Getting ready to watch some football!  Wren homecoming!“  Now her friends are leaving their grief stricken comments on her Facebook.

Counselors will be available at Hunt Meadows Elementary on Monday for teachers and students.

No charges have been filed against the driver of the car.

Anderson School District One released the following statement:

“Anderson School District One continues to mourn the loss of teacher assistant Gretchen Randall. Schools across the district had counselors available for teachers and students. A memorial was set up in the foyer at Hunt Meadows with white balloons and a picture of Mrs. Randall. The district is deeply saddened by the death of Mrs. Gretchen Randall. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone touched by this accident.

Before going to Hunt Meadows Elementary, Mrs. Randall worked at Powdersville Middle School under Principal Monty Oxendine. He shared, “Gretchen touched the lives of many students as well as faculty and staff members while she was with us here at Powdersville Middle. Her patience and compassion toward others, particularly the special needs children with whom she worked, was truly remarkable.“

Anderson One has eight sheriff deputies that monitor the safety and security of school athletic events, such as football games. Additionally they assist with directing traffic at the high school and middle school parking facilities at the conclusion of the games. The ROTC department assists with crossing guard duties at two sites adjacent to the football stadium.

Over the past two years, the school district worked with state highway dept and transportation services on a safety grant that included sidewalks, crosswalks, special signage, handicapped ramps and parking areas to create a safer pedestrian environment around the school buildings.

As with any serious safety concern it is prudent for the district to carefully and thoughtfully review its safety procedures. All roads and intersections are under the jurisdiction of the SC DOT. Therefore, the district is requesting that the SC DOT to evaluate this intersection to make sure it meets all appropriate safety requirements.  Additionally, the school district will assign a sheriff’s deputy to monitor this intersection during the entire game. In the past the deputy has monitored this intersection at the prior to the beginning of the game and at the conclusion to assist with traffic entering or exiting the stadium area.“

Funeral services for Randall will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28th at 4 p.m. in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home on Powdersville Road.
The burial will follow in Robinson Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 27th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.