VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A fundraising event was held Monday night for the woman who was hit by a trailer hitch that crashed through the windshield of the car she was riding in on July 13.
According to Virginia State Police, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13, a trailer hitch became dislodged from the back of a white Ford pick-up truck in the westbound lanes of Interstate 64 near the 284A exit.
Once dislodged, the trailer hitch went through the passenger side windshield of a blue Honda Civic, striking a woman, Carly White, in the face. She was later airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
After what happened, Keagan’s Irish Pub and Kitchen held a fundraiser to help give back because the woman who was struck is one of their own.
“She’s funny, she’s beautiful, she’s wonderful, she’s a wonderful mother,” said Keagan’s employee Rachel Stengle.
Stengle works with Steven Chapman at Keagan’s. Chapman and his girlfriend, White, were riding in their car July 13 when the incident took place. White was the passenger who was struck, and the 29-year-old mom has been recovering since.
“She’s doing better,” Stengle said. “She’s making progress every day. I talk to Chapman every day about her, and slowly but surely, she’s coming around.”
Monday night, though, it was all about giving White and her family the support they need with the fundraising music bingo event.
“We organized a raffle to raffle off two tickets to see the Offspring next Monday night at Veterans United [Home Loans] Amphitheater, and each winner gets one ticket,” said DJ Peter Wojcikowski. “And then donations are one ticket for $1 and then if you donate $20 you get 30 tickets.”
There’s currently a GoFundMe for White that has raised more than $30,000 so far, and friends are hoping to organize more fundraising events in the future to support the young mother.
“We really need all the help we can give for this.,” said John Salmon, who works with Steven Chapman. “She’s a wonderful, great person.”
Police are still looking for the pick-up truck that was involved. If you have any information about this incident, contact Virginia State Police by phone at 804-750-8788 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.