Co-workers organize fundraiser for family after severe crash
Co-workers of an Ottawa County father have launched a community fundraiser to assist his family following an Oct. 5 traffic collision involving a cement truck that left two young children injured.
OTTAWA COUNTY — Co-workers of an Ottawa County father have launched a community fundraiser to assist his family following an Oct. 5 traffic collision involving a cement truck that left two young children injured.
The crash occurred in Olive Township at the intersection of 120th Avenue and Stanton Street when an SUV carrying five occupants collided with a cement truck, the Ottawa News Network reported.
Emergency responders transported three children to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.
How to Help
Donations to support the family can be made directly online through the GoFundMe page.
Jose, whose full name was withheld by organizers on a GoFundMe page set up for his family, received word of the crash while on the job. His older son suffered two broken legs in the accident and was admitted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he remained until his discharge on Oct. 14. He is now recovering at home.
Read More: More details released on deadly cement truck crash in Olive Twp.
A second, younger child involved in the crash sustained severe injuries and remains hospitalized.
To help ease the financial strain, Jose’s co-workers, Paola and Mindy, organized the online fundraiser with his approval.
"Anybody who knows Jose will tell you that he is extremely kind and works hard," the organizers wrote on the campaign page. "We just want to be able to relieve some of the financial burden during this difficult time so he is able to concentrate on the kids."
Jose has taken time off work to care for his eldest son at home while spending time at the hospital with his youngest. Organizers expect he will need additional unpaid leave in the coming weeks as ongoing medical costs and daily travel back and forth to Grand Rapids continue to mount.
By Tuesday, 16 donors had contributed $3,263 toward the campaign's $5,000 goal. Organizers added that those unable to give financially can offer support through thoughts and prayers for the family.
The fundraiser stems from a two-vehicle collision that occurred around 2:20 p.m. on Oct. 5 in Olive Township.
Read More: One dead, 4 critically injured in collision with SUV, cement truck
According to preliminary findings by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a northbound 2016 Phoenix cement mixer was approaching the intersection of 120th Avenue and Stanton Street when a westbound 2024 Toyota SUV failed to yield the right-of-way and pulled into the mixer's path.
The impact killed the Toyota’s driver, a 51-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A 46-year-old female passenger in the front seat was severely injured and flown by Aero Med helicopter to Corewell Health in Grand Rapids, where she remains in critical condition. Both adults were wearing seatbelts.
Three boys in the back seat — ages 4, 9, and 11 — were not wearing seatbelts, investigators said. Emergency medical crews transported all three children to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where two were listed in critical condition and the third was treated for moderate injuries.
The driver of the cement truck was not injured.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
