GoFundMe.com raises money to help family of ECU student killed in Christmas Eve crash
An online fundraiser has garnered more than $20,000 to help the family of a former Wake Forest High School football player who was killed in a two-vehicle crash in North Raleigh on Christmas Eve.
As of Thursday afternoon, donors had pledged more than $20,000 on gofundme.com, a website in which people can give money to projects or causes.
The money will help the family of Ashanie Russell with funeral and medical expenses. Russell’s sister, Aaleyah Samantha Russell, 18, and Michael Kevon Gregory, 14, sustained serious injuries in the crash on Capital Boulevard, according to police.
Aaleyah Russell was driving a 2002 GMC SUV southbound on Capital when she hit a puddle in the road and hydroplaned, according to a police accident report. The SUV crossed the grassy median into the path of a northbound pickup truck, which hit the passenger-side door.
Ashanie Russell was in the front passenger seat and was pronounced dead at the scene, police reported.
The speed limit on that stretch of Capital Boulevard is 55 mph. Aaleyah Russell was going an estimated 68 mph when she lost control, according to the accident report, and the pickup was going an estimated 67 mph.
The driver of the pickup, Gregory Madison Adams, 43, was transported to WakeMed with life-threatening injuries, while his passenger, Colton Foster, 8, was also taken to the hospital, police reported. Colton has been released, but Adams remained hospitalized in serious condition this week.
Michael Gregory also remains hospitalized, in fair condition. Aaleyah Russell has been released.
Fundraiser for a friend
Taylor Winchester, 20, set up the online fund for the Russell family less than two weeks ago. After they graduated from Wake Forest High, Winchester and Ashanie Russell both attended East Carolina University, although Winchester was a year ahead of her friend.
She said they met at Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville, where they participated in the youth group. On Wednesday nights, Winchester said, the group would gather at church and then go to Krispy Kreme together.
Friends would also cheer on Russell and the rest of the Wake Forest football team during games. Russell was a running back on the team.
Winchester and Russell kept in touch at ECU.
The goal was to raise $20,000. Winchester said it was great to see an outpouring of support. One anonymous donor pledged $5,000, and another pledged $3,000.
Winchester said word about the fund spread quickly through social media. A McDonald’s restaurant in Rolesville also hosted a fundraiser for the Russell family on Wednesday.
“It was just awesome to see the impact he had on everybody,” Winchester said.
Staff writer Sarah Nagem contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 8, 2015 at 5:10 PM with the headline "GoFundMe.com raises money to help family of ECU student killed in Christmas Eve crash."