In the days after a woman was severely injured after two vehicles struck her, a GoFundMe was created to help her in the days ahead.
Police were sent to 375 Rantoul St., which is down the street from The Pickled Onion, at 10:15 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report that a female pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle. When police arrived, they found a woman and “immediately began tending to her,” according to the statement.
The fundraiser was set up for Sam Flynn, who was taken to Beverly Hospital before being flown by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston with serious injuries.
“Sam was the victim of a hit-and-run [crash] and sustained severe injuries,” organizer Lindsey Chidester, also from Beverly, wrote. “Including but not limited to broken ribs, broken legs, spinal injuries, and a dislocated hip. She will be in the hospital for a month minimum. She will still have bills to pay and unable to work for a few months. Anything helps.”
With a $15,000 goal, the fundraiser has so far received 224 donations that have accumulated $10,585. This includes one $500 donation, three $250 donations and eight $200 donations.
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“I’m so sad this happened,” donor Brianna Lovejoy wrote. “Wishing Sam all the healing and sending a huge hug to the bright sunshine of a person she is!”
Diego Mattos-Vazuldo, 47, of Essex, was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, Beverly police said in a statement.
Flynn walked into the street and was first hit by a vehicle heading south, police said. The driver of that vehicle remained in the area and cooperated with police.
Flynn was then hit by a second vehicle, which police said was driven by Mattos-Vazuldo. He “stopped for a matter of seconds before fleeing the scene,” according to police. After witnesses provided officers with a description of the vehicle, Essex police stopped a vehicle that matched the description.
After police stopped him, Mattos-Vazuldo said he “thought he may have struck something,” police said in the statement. He was taken to Beverly Police Department headquarters.