Our horse-drawn carriage driver and friend Laura Randall, known to us as Randi, was injured in an accident with a drunk driver on Saturday March 21, 1998. She was hit in a head-on collision betwwen Congress Avenue and Brazos at approximately 10:30 p.m, while driving her horse and carriage East on Cesar Chavez. The driver of the car had no insurance and no driver's license and two DWI's already under his belt. He was on probation for DWI at the time and had a blood alcohol level of 1.6, which is twice the legal level. He ran a red light and went the wrong way down a one-way street before crashing into the horse-drawn carriage. Randi was ejected from the driver's seat on impact. She has been at Brackenridge hospital in the Intensive Care and Nueroscience Unit in Fair condition since Saturday night with severe head injuries. Barney, her horse pulling the carriage, suffered minor injuries including a small wound on his right leg and a scrape on his chin. Barney climbed on top of the 1989 Ford Taurus that hit him in an atempt to avoid major injuries and even avoided getting his hoof caught in the windshield! Although quite shook up, Barney returned to the Radisson Hotel less than half a block away, his familiar resting spot, with few physical injuries and scars.

UPDATE!!!

Laura Randall has been moved from her bed at Brackenridge Hospital in the Nueroscience Unit to a private room where she will spend the next five to seven days recovering from her injuries. Now, more than ever, we need your support. We are trying to set up a benefit concert for "Randi" downtown and would greatly appreciate any help we can get from the citizens of Austin or the State of Texas.

Randi needs lots of moral support and care, as well as funds to pay her medical bills. Please send any donations to the following locations:

Laura Randall Trust Fund
Bank Of America
1901 W William Cannon Dr
Austin, TX 78745-5399
Call 512-443-8767 for the branch nearest you
All Bank Of America Locations are accepting donations

We would like it to be noted that this is the first accident of its kind in over fifteen years. Our industry takes many safety precautions to ensure the safety of our passengers, automobiles, pedestrians and our drivers. This accident could just have easily have happened with two cars as with a car and a carriage. As professional carriage drivers we understand that there is always a small risk and that accidents like these are one-in-a-million occurrences.

We at Die Gelbe Rose would like to extend our thanks to all who have helped Randi and her family in this crisis. The community has pulled together in a manner none of us expected. Thanks to all Texans!