Injured in Accident : 3 Years After One Son Killed, Parents Pray for Second to Live

While their 21-year-old son, Mark, the victim of an alleged drunk driver, clung to life Friday night at UCI Medical Center, Beverly and Edward Dowell of Anaheim could not help but think of the past.

“It was three years, one month and 16 days to the date my son Michael was killed by a drunk driver,” said an anxious Beverly Dowell, who had been sitting in the hospital waiting room since 3:30 a.m. Friday.

“It was the same day of the week, same time of night and he was 21. This one is going to survive. I know he is.”

In the earlier case, the mother said, both Michael and his best friend were intoxicated when the friend drove under a mail truck in Anaheim, killing her son instantly. The friend, David Osterhouldt, escaped with 14 stitches. He sat by Beverly Dowell’s side Friday night.

“But Mark doesn’t drink,” she said.

Doctors listed his condition as grave.

Police said Mark Edward Dowell and a friend, Fred Joe Luster, 22, were ejected from their car when an allegedly drunk driver ran a red light and collided with their vehicle at 2 a.m. at the intersection of Crescent and Western avenues in Buena Park.

The other driver was identified as Keith Allen Ring, 22, of Anaheim, who was listed in stable condition Friday night at the jail ward of UCI Medical Center. Buena Park police spokesman Terry Branum said Ring was charged with felony drunk driving and is being held on $10,000 bail.

Luster, who lives in Buena Park, is in stable condition at Humana West Anaheim hospital.

“I feel very flustered and very scared,” Mark’s mother said, her voice quivering. “I’m not going home until they tell me my son is going to live.”

Beverly Dowell, who said she has a 26-year-old daughter, added: “Please do something to stop them from hurting my kids. I’ve had it with this. I’m scared to death.”