The following is an excerpt from a new Facebook blog by Afa the Wild Samoan. Afa talks about the rough week he and his family have had with Ata and Lina being involved in an automobile accident with a drunk driver.
“The last two weeks have been very difficult for me and my family. The world now knows about the terrible car accident that happened just after our 6th Annual Usos Foundation Fundraising Banquet in Minneola, FL on August 2nd. The event was beautiful and heartfelt. There was a lot of love in the room, as there is each and every year. After our event, we were heading to a local Clermont restaurant to continue our celebration, and we were in a convoy of cars, which included my family, students, WXW Wrestlers, and Foundation supporters. Due to a drunk driver’s carelessness, one of our cars was struck. My cousin Ata Maivia-Johnson and niece Lina Fanene were the driver and passenger in the car that was struck head-on. It could have been my daughter a few cars ahead, it could have been my own vehicle with my wife, son Jaye, and grandchildren, it could have been any one of my students or wrestlers.
Just when the accident happened, the car immediately in front of them, containing my student, WXW Superstar Noah Kekoa, called me to alert me that Ata had gotten in an accident. I thank God that she had such a strong, safe vehicle, because they survived what could have been a fatal tragedy. There was so much chaos at the scene of the accident, police threatening to arrest us, as we all jumped out of our cars to help them. My only thought was to get to Ata’s side and see her with my own eyes. I was so relieved when I heard her voice, as she told the First Responder “Call Dwayne! Call my son!” Everyone in our group except for myself and Noah was forced to wait at a gas station across from the scene, waiting in helpless panic, not knowing the extent of the injuries.
We all headed to the Emergency Room, and there were so many of my family, wrestlers, students, and foundation supporters, including former Minneola Mayor and dear family friend David Yeager, all waiting there with us, praying, refusing to leave our side. I can’t express enough how comforting it was to have everyone there during this terrifying time. I was the first one allowed to go in to see Ata and Lina in the emergency room, and they were also very thankful that we were all there for them. Ata asked me to send them all home, because it was well after midnight at this time. She was concerned about them driving home. Imagine, after such a terrible ordeal, being concerned about everyone else. That’s just the kind of person Ata is.”>
Check out the complete blog at Facebook.com.
