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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Friends Set Up Funds For Family Devastated by Car Crash
It was this scene, along North Illinois Avenue Tuesday afternoon, that changed the lives of the McNeil-Davis family forever, and shook the Carbondale community.
"When something like this hits us- it hits all of us."
Julie Payne-Kirchmeier is the Director of University Housing where David "Tony" Davis has worked for the past seven years. She says, for most co-workers, Tony is like family...
"Some co-workers are actually in St. Louis, right now, visiting with them."
Davis' car was hit from behind and pushed into oncoming traffic, where it was hit again, this time by a van. Seven people were taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. But the McNeil-Davis family suffered the greatest loss. The day after the crash, Davis' 4-year-old son Mathew, succumbed to his injuries. Friends tell us Davis is at Barnes hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries. No word on the condition of the other child with Davis, 7-year-old Meghan McNeil, who was also taken to Barnes.
"This is like a very close knit group and they know him, they know his family, they know his son and for this loss to occur, its a loss for all of us."
Kirchmeier says that's why Davis' co-workers have set up the Mathew Gerald Davis Memorial fund with SIU Credit Union.
"4:06 We will do whatever we can to help he and his family get through this difficult time."
There are two funds set up to help the McNeil-Davis family:
McNeil-Davis Benefit fund at the First Southern Bank
And
The Mathew Gerald Davis Memorial at SIU Credit Union
As for the accident, Carbondale police say the driver of the truck was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The crash is still under investigation.
By: Rachel Gartner
rgartner@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451854
