WNYT.com

Tim Tebow calls Shenendehowa crash victim

Posted at: 12/03/2012 10:48 PM
Updated at: 12/04/2012 11:32 AM
By: WNYT Staff

The power of social media was in full effect on Monday night.

An effort to get the hashtags #TebowCallMatt and #MissyCallBailey trending on Twitter proved to be successful.

It was so Matt Hardy and Bailey Wind, two survivors in Saturday's crash on the Northway, could speak with their idols, New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow and Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin.

Tebow called Matt on Monday evening.

This is from Tim Tebow's Twitter page:

Matt is currently listed in fair condition at Albany Medical Center. Bailey is in critical condition.

Franklin, an Olympic swimmer, tweeted last night that she left a voicemail message for Bailey, who swims for Shaker High School.

Two other Shenendehowa seniors, Chris Stewart and Deanna Rivers, were killed in the accident on Saturday night.  A candlelight vigil is planned to honor them Tuesday night at Shenendehowa High School.

Police say the SUV the teens were traveling in went out of control and rolled over after being rear-ended by another vehicle.  They say the driver of that car, 22-year-old Dennis Drue of Clifton Park, had been drinking.

Tebow and Franklin aren't the only athletes reaching out to the students. New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlin was among the thousands who retweeted the message last night. He says on his twitter feed that he and other atheletes have also called and left messages.