There has been an outpouring of support from the Macarthur community for two local police officers seriously injured in an RBT crash on Friday night.
Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields Command officers Senior Constable Jonathon ‘Jono’ Wright and Senior Constable Matthew Foley were struck when 22-year-old Ruse man Jakob Thornton allegedly veered into them while checking his phone.
Two GoFundMe pages were launched at the weekend to help the injured officers.
Amber Nielson, a close friend of the Wrights, launched her GoFundMe page on Saturday to help ease the financial pressure on the family while Jono recovers from his injuries, including a foot amputation.
The fund, which was created with the hope of raising $10,000, has already raised more than $85,000.
The second fund was launched by Macquarie Fields Highway Patrol on Sunday and has raised more than $6500 for Senior Constable Foley, who also suffered significant leg, arm and head injuries.
The campaign page said Senior Constable Foley had undergone surgery and would be “incapacitated for a lengthy period”.
“He will have to undergo intense physical therapy and may have major psychological injuries,” the page read.
“Matt and his wife Ros, along with their two young children are facing a lengthy recovery period.
“They have received much love and support for which they are extremely grateful.
“If you can find it in your hearts to donate any amount, big or small, we would be very grateful – as would Matt and Ros.”
Ms Nielson, who works with Senior Constable Wright’s wife Lisa at Campbelltown Hospital, said colleagues and friends were asking how they could help out while the Wrights were going through such a “tragic time”.
“People just wanted to feel like they were doing something to help, that they were making a difference,” she said.
“They wanted to channel their grief into something constructive and positive.
“I set up this GoFundMe page with no idea what I was doing and the response has been phenomenal.”
Ms Nielson said the funds already raised would cover a year’s worth of mortgage repayments and make a big difference to the family’s financial situation.
She said Mrs Wright, who only recently returned to work after having her third child, would also be taking time off to help her husband’s recovery.
“This fund means that Jono and Lisa can just focus on recovery and getting better and not stress about the money,” she said.
“They’re both very hard workers, but now the most important thing is recovery.”
Ms Nielson said Senior Constable Wright had been moved out of the ICU and into a ward but he still had “a long road ahead”.
The Wrights were “shocked and overwhelmed” to hear about the size of the fund, Ms Nielson said.
“We were on a facetime call when I told them and Jono had to turn the phone away while he digested the news,” she said.
“And this was when we’d only raised just over $40,000.
“They were overcome with emotion, Jono had tears in his eyes.
“He said, ‘we don’t even know that many people’, because over a thousand people had shared the page.
“They’re really private people and it was just a shock to them that so many people wanted to help.”
Ms Nielson said the support from the public – more than 1400 people have donated so far, including some from overseas – was more than just financial.
“It is so much more than just monetary support,” she said.
“If everyone that shares that page now thinks a little harder about not using their phone while driving, they could save a life or a limb.
“I know it’s changed my whole way of thinking.”
Ms Nielson said both she and the Wrights were extremely grateful to everyone who donated and shared the GoFundMe page.
“We are all floored by the level of support. Thank you so much.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Monday that the events of Friday night had given Senior Constable Wright a “life sentence”.
Police are calling for any witnesses to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The man accused of causing the accident, Mr Thornton, has previously lost his licence four times and has also been fined for using a mobile phone while driving, Parramatta Bail Court was told on Saturday.
He has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
The court heard Thornton had admitted to looking at his phone for between 10 and 20 seconds before hitting Senior constables Jonathon Wright and Matthew Foley on Campbelltown Road at Leumeah about 8.20pm on Friday night.
Mr Thornton was refused bail and is expected to face Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.
