A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to support a local youth soccer player and his sister who were injured in a crash in Chehalis last month.
The boy had his leg amputated at the hospital following the incident.
As of Wednesday morning, the online fundraiser had raised $10,143 of its $12,000 goal. Ninety-nine donations had been made.
The two-vehicle collision led to the arrests of Connor L. Smith, 34, of Chehalis, and Ronald W. Manjares Jr., 44, of Centralia. Both drivers were charged with vehicular assault.
Police said two of the four child passengers inside Manjares’ 2005 GMC Yukon were airlifted to the hospital following the July 26 crash.
Taylor Smith, a U-14 coach for the local Twin City Union youth football club, and the fundraiser’s organizer, said the injured boy played for the club.
“His family is with him now recovering,” Smith said in the GoFundMe. “His little sister was also in this wreck. Both of these kids are undergoing a lot of surgeries and months of recovery. We want to help his family as much as we possibly can. This boy is an amazing soccer player and it’s his love and passion.”
Smith said all the proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward helping the children recover from their injuries. The soccer coach hopes the funds earned will ease the family’s stress “so their mom can focus on helping her babies recover.”
“She has nine kids, and needs support more than ever,” Smith said.
To view the fundraiser, visit https://tinyurl.com/4ex27vxj.
