Doctor hurt in crash in good condition

By RHONDA SIMMONS
Media General News Service
Published: October 9, 2008

CULPEPER — The Culpeper physician critically injured in a head-on collision five weeks ago was listed in good condition Monday at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, according to his office manager.

Before the upgrade, Dr. J. Bryon Cook, 58, spent the majority of September in fair condition recovering in the intensive care unit.

“He’s doing great, he’s able to walk with a walker and he’s off of the (ventilator),“ said Sandra Deavers of Commonwealth Medical.

The wreck that critically injured the internal medicine practitioner killed Kelsey Orndorff, a 17-year-old Fredericksburg Christian High School senior and daughter of Culpeper United Methodist Church Pastor Randy Orndorff.

Coincidentally, the doctor’s office is located across the street from the Orndorff’s church.

A sign posted in the church lawn reads, “Pray for Dr. Cook” and “God Bless Kelsey.“

The crash occurred Aug. 29 around 5:50 p.m. on Route 3 near Clay Hill Road in Stevensburg.

According to the Virginia State Police, Orndorff’s eastbound 2004 Dodge Intrepid ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected and struck Cook’s westbound 2002 Acura MDX sports utility vehicle.

Rhonda Simmons is a staff writer for Media General’s Culpeper Star-Exponent.