Football Player’s Family Skips Flight

ROCHESTER, Mich. —  Detroit Lions wide receiver Pete Mandley on Monday credited “the work of the Lord” for keeping his family off the Northwest Airlines plane that crashed near Detroit Metropolitan Airport, killing 154 people.

Mandley’s wife and two children had reservations for Flight 255, which was en route to Phoenix, but they decided Sunday afternoon to stay in Michigan another day. The plane crashed just after takeoff near Interstate 94.

“It had to be the work of the Lord, protecting my family like that,” said Mandley, whose home is in Paradise Valley, Ariz., a northern suburb of Phoenix.

Mandley’s wife, Teresa, 7-year-old son, Dejhown, and infant daughter Treazure attended the Lions’ practice Monday morning at Oakland University and were in good spirits.

“We’re just trying to put this behind us,” Teresa said. “I’m happy to be here today. I’m very pleased that everyone is so concerned.”