LDS Missionary Britten Schenk Hit By Bus In Brazil, Seriously Injured But Expected To Survive

A missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission is hospitalized after a serious accident. Twenty-year-old Elder Britten Schenk, who hails from Hyde Park in Cache County, Utah, was waiting on the sidewalk to cross the street in Sao Paulo when he was hit by a bus on Friday March 16th, 2012. Updated KSL news video embedded below:

Missionary hit by bus 'improving,' parents write | ksl.com

Elder Schenk was transported to hospital where he had emergency surgery to remove bone fragments and relieve swelling in his brain. According to information posted on his blog, which is updated regularly by his parents, Elder Schenk is still in serious condition, using a ventilator to assist breathing, but is visibly improving after a second surgery, and has been taken off sedation. Schenk's parents are now in Brazil and the mission president is rendering assistance to them. The lady who was driving the bus showed up at the hospital later completely beside herself, repeatedly apologizing, but family members were in a forgiving mood.

Elder Schenk is a 2009 graduate of Mountain Crest High School, and has served on his mission for 21 months. A former companion, Elder Steven Clark, characterized him as a "really good guy" back in May 2011.

Several people posting comments to the first KSL story indicate that missionaries who serve in Brazil have frequent near-misses involving buses. Brazilian bus drivers tend to throw caution to the winds.