By JEFF FARRELL

Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE — Friends and coworkers of Jeff and Linda Trentham hope the money they raised Saturday will help the couple with some of the mounting expenses they’ve faced since a horrible wreck in September.

They believe Trentham might have moved off the road to avoid something in his lane — the car started to go off the road, then when Jeff Trentham overcorrected it struck a tree.

The impact sent both to the hospital. Linda Trentham suffered several broken bones. She’s out of the hospital now, but it will be several months before she can return to work.

She was the lucky one.

Her husband remains in critical care, with a multitude of broken bones, collapsed lungs and other problems. He’s already been through two surgeries and likely faces more, although his doctors say he’s recovering.

Both the Trenthams have jobs — he drives a trolley and she works at a local hotel — but neither had health insurance.

So their family, friends and coworkers are doing what they can to raise money for the couple and their 13-year-old son, Ethan. They had a rummage sale Saturday at the Sevier County Rescue Squad headquarters to help collect more money for the couple.

“We’ve just been passing the hat every week,” said Barbara Shierling. “We’ve been trying to help them since September.”

Their family goes to Wears Valley United Methodist Church, and church members dropped off many of the items at the sale. “Everything you see here is donated by individuals or by people from the church,” she said.

They hope to use the proceeds to buy groceries for the family, as well as help them pay bills and other expenses.

jfarrell@themountainpress.com