Man accused of drunken driving in wreck

At Shining Light Baptist Church in Monroe, N.C., people are praying for the Kilstroms, a family of six whose van was struck head-on Thursday night on Savannah Highway by a man accused of drunken driving.

Both parents were in surgery at a Charleston hospital Friday.

Their two oldest children have broken collar bones, their 3-year-old is in intensive care with a head injury, but their baby escaped the crash without injury, according to the family's pastor.

The man accused of causing the wreck, 34-year-old West Ashley resident Robert Henry Campbell Jr., has been charged with three counts of felony driving under the influence, according to the Charleston Police Department.

Campbell was driving a Ford Econoline van that crossed into the oncoming traffic lane on Savannah Highway at Braxton Avenue just before 9:30 p.m. and crashed into a van carrying the Kilstroms.

Shining Light Baptist Church Pastor Tim Cruse has been posting updates about the family members' conditions on the church's Web site, www.shin inglightmonroe.com.

"Tor Kilstrom has been in surgery all afternoon, and they are having to put a rod in his leg," Cruse said Friday night. "His wife has a shattered knee- cap and a broken elbow."

Harry "Tor" Kilstrom is the administrator at Shining Light Baptist Academy. His wife, Hope Kilstrom, is the academy's piano teacher.

They were traveling with their four children: 8-year-old Emma, 5-year-old Noah, 3-year-old Cherith and 6-week-old Gideon.

"We're trying to rally around them, and lots of folks are helping them already," said Cruse, who was in Charleston to help.

He said people affiliated with local Victory Baptist Church have been helping take care of the two older children and the infant, who have been released from the hospital.

Cruse said he talked to Tor Kilstrom about the crash.

"I asked him about it, and he said he was just riding down the road and there was the car and there was nothing they could do."

Cruse said the family has been very concerned about 3-year-old Cherith's head injury, but her condition appears to have stabilized.

"She has been able to move her arms and legs," Cruse said.

Campbell also was injured in the accident but was treated and then taken to the Charleston County Detention Center on Friday.

State police records do not show any prior arrests for drunken driving on Campbell's record.

Campbell was last at the county detention center in 2002, state police records and county records show, when he was charged with assault and battery with intent to kill after a shooting victim identified him as the attacker in an incident near the Toogoodoo Road club.

That charge was dropped later, and Campbell was sentenced at the end of 2002 to 18 months on probation on a charge of pointing and presenting firearms at a person.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.