Malibu Reels as Word of Accident Involving Members of OLM Family Filters Out

•Longtime Teacher at OLM Is Killed•

By Anne Soble

According to preliminary Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol reports, at about 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Ambassador to Malta Douglas Kmiec, Our Lady of Malibu Pastor Emeritus Msgr. John Sheridan, and Sister Mary Campbell, who taught generations of OLM students, were involved in a solo vehicle accident at Mulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road.

Sr. Mary Campbell, a Sister of St. Louis and longtime assistant to Msgr. Sheridan, was killed in the accident. Authorities said she was declared dead at the scene.

Sheridan, who is 94, and Kmiec, were both suffering from what were described as serious injuries. They were taken to the UCLA Medical Center Trauma Center.

Members of the OLM parish gathered throughout the afternoon and evening at the church where longtime parishioner and school supporter Cynthia Bollinger said love and prayers for the three resounded.

Authorities say the accident remains under investigation and may have involved dashboard control adjustment, according to Tracy De Mello, the Malibu liaison at Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. among those monitoring the situation Monday night.

Sheridan underwent surgery last night and reportedly remains in critical condition. OLM issued a statement that doctors "have stopped most of the internal bleeding; they are treating several broken ribs; and they are watching him carefully for signs of infection and/or pneumonia."

Kmiec, who was appointed to the Malta post by the Obama Administration and was on leave from his position as a constitutional law professor at Pepperdine University, was driving the car when the accident occurred. He underwent surgery last night and is reported to be improving.

Cardinal Roger Mahony visited the hospital Wednesday night and issued a statement asking everyone in Malibu and elsewhere to "please keep all three of these wonderful and devoted disciples of Jesus Christ very much in your prayers."

Sr. Mary Campbell's order, the Sisters of St. Louis, and her family will determine services. She had just returned from visiting her mother in Ireland. OLM will post the details as soon as they are made public.

OLM also announced that it is planning to schedule a blood drive in Sheridan's name.