Fans of Dottie West offered to donate blood to the hospital where the critically injured country singer awaited a third operation Wednesday to stop internal bleeding.
West's one-time duet partner Kenny Rogers visited her at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and said he promised her they would record another song together when she gets well.West, 58, suffered a ruptured liver and spleen Friday when the car she was riding in crashed on the way to a Grand Ole Opry performance. Two operations failed to stop the bleeding. She was in critical but stable condition.
Police said the driver of the car, George Thackston, lost control while driving 55 mph in a 25 mph zone. Thackston, 81, was listed in critical but stable condition.
Thackston's wife, Billye Ruth Thackston, said her husband didn't know West but offered her a ride after her car broke down.
"She was frantic to get to work and told him she had to get there by 8 p.m. and was running too late to call anyone else," Mrs. Thackston said.
Residents of West's hometown, McMinnville, organized a blood drive to replenish the hospital supply. Doctors have given West almost 35 units of blood.
West's manager, Wayne Oliver, said entertainers including Tanya Tucker, Johnny Russell, Moe Bandy and Kris Kristofferson have called the hospital.