A Greyhound bus carrying 45 passengers and a semitrailer truck collided near Evanston, Wyo., Dec. 18, killing seven people and hospitalizing 21.

The accident occurred on a four-lane interstate freeway 13 miles west of Evanston when the semi lost control on icy roads. After sliding off the westbound lanes, the truck plunged down an embankment into the eastbound lanes, slamming broadside into the bus.As news of the accident spread throughout this southwest Wyoming community, Latter-day Saints joined with members of other faiths to volunteer time, skills, homes and comfort to victims at both the local hospital and National Guard armory where survivors were taken.

Bishop Paul R. Barnard of the Uinta View Ward, Evanston Wyoming South Stake, said approximately 70 Church members from the Evanston Wyoming and Evanston Wyoming South stakes took part in relief efforts.

Jon Lunsford, Uinta County, Wyo., fire warden, said, "It's very gratifying and heartwarming to know that we live in a community where people are willing to give of their time and their means, especially at this busy Christmas season.

"They opened their hearts, their homes, and their pocketbooks to help those who were in need. It was a multi-denominational response," said Lunsford, also a member of the Uinta View Ward.

Bishop Barnard said a member of his ward, who is an Evanston police officer, notified him shortly after the accident, and requested assistance from Church members.

Immediately, Bishop Barnard began making phone calls, and the voluntary effort escalated. He said members responded by saying, "Where do we go and what do we do. Just tell us what to do."

Dorothy Hansen of the Evanston 1st Ward, Evanston Wyoming South Stake, recalled joining with other volunteers at the hospital to clean up patients and assist the nursing staff as patients were treated. She added that volunteers helped for about 51/2 hours.

"It made me feel so sad and overwhelmed that my fellow men could be hurt so badly - seeing them bruised and bleeding," said Sister Hansen. "Many of them were traveling home for Christmas to see their loved ones. The greatest concern that the patients had was, `Please let my loved ones know I'm fine.'

"The thing that helping out taught us is we need to be more prepared for emergency-type situations," she emphasized. She described the search for the parents of a baby girl, who was a survivor of the crash.

"No one on the bus knew who the baby belonged to," she related. "We really need to carry identification on us, even on babies."

Denice Wheeler of the Evanston 3rd Ward, Evanston Wyoming Stake, coordinated relief efforts at the National Guard armory. She said there were about 50 to 60 volunteers of several faiths at the armory.

"Very quickly, many members of the Church came with food and clothing," she reported. She added that volunteers helped the victims and assisted them in calling their families. Victims at the armory were given clothing from local stores.

She said most of the survivors taken to the armory were housed that night in residents' homes. About half of them were in members' homes, she noted. Sister Wheeler added that the relief effort was "a mammoth effort."