A pastor has been released from a local hospital after being taken away in critical condition last week following a car crash that killed his two school-aged daughters.
The violent collision in Arkansas’s rural Clark County left the youngest son of driver – and beloved Crossroads Cowboy Church priest – Chad Fryar fighting for his life, with the extent of his injuries not yet specified.
Fryar’s truck was left a mangled mess after Thursday’s horror attack, when a northbound train unexpectedly hit the passenger side as it passed a railroad crossing.
After the initial impact, the locomotive dragged the truck for about half a mile — leaving the 37-year-old and young members of the beloved figure’s family trapped inside.
Investigating the wreckage, officers soon noticed that Fryar’s daughters, Marley Jo and Dana Kate, did not survive, while son, Bo Henry, underwent emergency surgery.
Chad Fryar’s two daughters were killed on Thursday when their truck was hit by a train, also injuring the pastor and his son. He was released from hospital on Monday after being left in a critical condition. Son Bo Henry (center) is reportedly in stable condition
In a major update to the Bismarck congregation of Fryar on Monday, clergy revealed that Fryar was on the mend and left the hospital of his own accord while his son, after successful surgery, was in stable condition.
In an update from Fryar’s Bismarck congregation on Monday, clergy revealed that Fryar was on the mend and left the hospital on his own accord while Bo Henry was in stable condition after surgery.
Thank you to everyone around the world reaching out and praying! God is working and your prayers are being answered!’ it reads. “Pastor Chad was able to leave the hospital right after we checked out [sic] services today!’
The revelation came as a sigh of relief to the approximately 2,000 Bismarck citizens who had come to know the pastor over the past three years, after he joined the church in November 2020.
Earlier in the day, the church shared a statement asking for healing prayers for Pastor Fryar and his son, revealing that they were both in stable condition at the time.
‘We are devastated [the] tragic events and the loss of Marlee Jo and Dana Kate,” Crossroads Cowboy Church’s Monday statement read.
“Chad and Bo Henry are stable in local hospitals. Please continue to pray for their healing. Please pray for Rachel as she processes this loss and serves her son and husband.”
Over the weekend, church officials shared an update on Fryar’s progress in his recovery, saying he was “in a good mood and being his normal self.”
At the time, the municipality wrote that doctors were ‘still discussing the length of his stay’, but kept him in ICU as a precaution.
The statement was shared two days after the accident and also shed light on Bo Henry’s condition, after officials confirmed the child survived and was hospitalized but did not specify the extent of his injuries.
“Bo Henry’s surgery went better than expected last night and they are managing his pain,” the church’s Facebook statement read on Saturday, while sharing an attached photo of the happy family in better times.
He is a trooper, the post continued, adding that the child was removed from a pediatric ICU Saturday afternoon but remained in the hospital.
“He was removed from the PICU this afternoon,” the post read, adding that Bo Henry’s mother Rachel — who was home at the time of the crash — could have also visited her recovering husband that day.
“The boys talked on the phone this morning and Rachel saw Chad at lunch. She had a good rest this afternoon. Please keep praying, God is moving.’
Another message from the church included a QR code so residents can send donations to the broken family via CashApp, as they are likely to face a slew of bills, funeral expenses and possibly a lengthy recovery.
As Fryar’s vehicle was traveling on the tracks, a northbound train hit the passenger side, dragging the truck about half a mile.
A message from the Crossroads Cowboy Church over the weekend had indicated that Fryar and his young son are recovering from their injuries
Bo Henry (center) is the only Fryar child still alive after the tragic train collision
According to a crash summary obtained by local media, Fryar was driving his 2017 Chevrolet Silverado at around 1:45 p.m. when the collision occurred.
The Arcadelphic reported that there are crossbuck stop signs on both sides of the tracks, but no flashing lights or crossing gates to warn of approaching trains.
After their vehicle was hit, the father-of-three was airlifted to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, nearly 50 miles from the crime scene.
Bo Henry was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital with unknown injuries.
It is unclear where each child was in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
Fryar — who was in charge of the church’s Bismarck, Arkansas site — had not preached until May 20, according to a streamed service on their Facebook page.
During that service, he spoke about seeds of faith and finding blessings in life, even when it seems difficult.
Riddle, speaking to local outlets, said faith is now what the Fryar family and the community around them rely on.
“While devastated, their faith in God is strong, but intact,” said Riddle.
Marley Jo Fryar (far right) and Dana Kate Fryar (left in blue top) were both killed in the crash
“They will need our prayers and support even more in the coming days and months,” reads a message from the El Paso Municipality.
The Fryar family in a photo shared by the Crossroads Cowboy Church the weekend before the crash, which happened Thursday
“Although they are devastated, their faith in God is strong, it is intact,” Crossroads Cowboy Church chief pastor Ron Riddle said in a statement to local media.
The church is at the moment welcome donations to help the family in need.
“They will need our prayers and support even more in the coming days and months,” reads a post from the church’s El Paso chapter.
Hundreds of people have responded and shared their support for the family as they mourn and prepare for the unexpected burial of their two young girls.
‘I’m completely shocked. My mother heart is so sad. I can’t even try. God does his wanderings, and he needed them more in heaven than on this dreary earth. Gentleman. God,” one woman wrote.
“Prayers are being prayed for this family,” another added.
Police and other officials are currently investigating the crash – the cause of which remains unclear.
Union Pacific Railroad confirmed that no one on the train was injured in the collision at the time of the incident.