SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Woman abandoned after motorcycle crash needs your help
Aug 12, 2012, 1:58 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm
Jessica Anderson has been in a medically induced coma since late July after a motorcycle crash. The driver abandoned her on the side of the road. (Photo: Jessica's gofundme.com page)
(Photo: Jessica's gofundme.com page)
Jessica Anderson, a 22-year-old from Puyallup, was saved from a motorcycle crash by total strangers after a friend abandoned her on the side of the road. Now the community is coming together to help pay her medical bills.
Jessica was riding on a motorcycle on July 26 with a friend, Philip Mack, on 1900 block of Marine View Drive in Tacoma when they were in a motorcycle crash.
Philip was unharmed. Jessica wasn’t so lucky. At the hospital doctors said she had a punctured lung, chest injuries, and a broken back.
Jessica’s father, Dale Anderson, said witnesses told him later that Philip did not check to see if Jessica was alive before he left the scene of the crash. He saw that she was injured before he got up and never returned to the crash site.
“The gentleman, Mr. Mack, basically it sounds like he came over and looked at her, looked at one of the witnesses and then went back and left. He walked away, got on the bike, and drove off,” says Dale.
Total strangers driving by the accident stopped and called 911, which doctors say must have saved Jessica’s life.
Philip Mack was later arrested for vehicular assault and leaving the scene of a crash. Dale, however, still can’t understand why Philip abandoned his daughter.
“Why? Why would you walk away? I mean, let’s say it was, supposedly, a freind of yours. People don’t leave friends,” says Dale. “People stop and help strangers. Why would you do that? That boggles my mind. I really don’t have a lot of hate. I just want to understand why.”
Jessica is currently in a medically induced coma and may have suffered brain injuries, but she could still make a full recovery and fulfill her dream of becoming a firefighter, just like her dad.
Now the community is helping Jessica a second time. Dale has set up a website to raise money for Jessica’s medical expenses and he’s raised almost $7,000 so far.
Detective Ed Troyer is partnering with the CrimeStoppers of Pierce County and Pierce County Marine Vets to organize a charity ‘poker run’ for Jessica.
Ron and Don don’t want the creep who left Jessica on the road to give all bikers a bad name. They are asking any motorcycle or car clubs that want to be involved in the ‘poker run’ send us an email at ronanddon@973kiro.com.
Listen to the full story by Libby Denkman:
By Jillian Raftery
