Family Raises Over $8,000 In 1 Day For San Leandro Boy Struck By SUV
SAN LEANDRO (CBS SF) -- A family member of a 10-year-old boy struck by an SUV after riding his bike to school for the first time this year is raising money for what will likely be a long and expensive recovery.
Sequoia Song's GoFundMe Page for her nephew Orion Benson Wednesday raised over $8,000 in nearly one day.
"My sister is a single mom and the sole support of her 3 children at home," Song wrote on the page. "At this point she isnt thinking about the long term costs and the fact that it will be months before she can return to work, nor should she be. But, i am and i see how bad things can get, financially, and quickly. I dont want her to have to worry about that, i want her to take care of her children, knowing she will be ok."
Police said Benson, a third grade student at Washington Elementary School, was wearing his helmet as he walked his bike across a marked crosswalk just a few blocks from school Tuesday morning when he was struck by a Chevy Tahoe driving at about 25 to 30 miles an hour.
Police said witnesses discovered Benson to be unresponsive and called police for help. After officers arrived, he regained consciousness and began to scream.
Benson was then was transported to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland where he was treated for several broken bones, including multiple fractures in his leg and ribs, as well as a broken arm, a broken collar bone and minor head trauma.
Police said his bicycle helmet saved him from severe head trauma.
San Leandro police said the Benson's clothes had to be cut off so paramedics could provide proper medical care and Sgt. Troy Young, who was one of the officers on scene, was so moved that he bought a new outfit and delivered it to the hospital on Tuesday night.
San Leandro police released a statement in which one of Benson's family members said, "It truly was above and beyond the call of duty. At a time when it seems you only hear about police brutality, it is heart-warming to know there are good people such as Sgt. Young who obviously care."
The SUV driver is a man in his 40s who doesn't have a valid driver's license, according to police.
You can donate to Orion's fund here.
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