New Life Church Member Gets Handicapped VanIt has been five years since Carlos Cabrera was in a vehicle accident that paralyzed him from the waist down.
Cabrera, 29, Warsaw, was involved in a serious car crash Dec. 5, 2004, that rendered him quadriplegic.
The crash happened on Old 30 going into Atwood, and was a result of Cabrera drinking and driving. He crashed into a tree and telephone pole and suffered a spinal cord injury.On Sunday morning, following the church service at New Life Christian Church, Cabrera accepted a handicapped-accessible van that church members purchased for him.
Cabrera has been a church member there since 2007.
"It's nice to be associated with a pro-active church that reaches out to folks in the community," Cabrera said.
The 2004 Chevy Venture LS van has 3,500 miles and was purchased off E-bay in California from a private owner.
Cabrera's previous van was in constant need of repairs and the tires went flat.
Although Cabrera is a quadriplegic, he is able to drive with adapted hand-controlled equipment. The van has an automatic lift and chair to meet Cabrera's needs.
Cabrera graduated from Triton Junior-Senior High School, Bourbon, in 1998.
Cabrera plans to use the van to visit local high schools to talk about the dangers of drinking and driving.
The van was made possible through church members pitching in to raise funds to purchase the van.
The church held a Mexican dinner in September when the church raised $1,500. An entire offering was donated to the collection fund for the van.
Mark Harness Jr., a New Life Christian Church member, picked the van up in Los Angeles, Calif., on a flat bed truck and drove it back to Warsaw.
"Carlos is an amazing man and I was pleased to help him and the church out," Harness said.
The cost of the van was $10,000.
New Life Christian Church Pastor John Lowe recognized Cabrera needed a more reliable van.
"It means a lot that the church raised funds to help meet Carlos's transportation needs," Lowe said.
Cabrera said the van will allow him to drive his children to sporting events.
Cabrera has three sons, Mauricio, 12, Dayson, 9, and Lucas, 7.
The van still needs hand modifications to allow him to drive it.
His brother Andrew Spears will drive the van for a diagnostic check to Superior Van and Mobility, Fort Wayne, and the company will pay for hand modifications.
Cabrera's mother Rebeca Spears said she is excited for her son to receive the van.
"He's struggled a lot and it is nice to see brothers and sisters of Christ helping him out," Spears said.
