Online fund set up to bring tragic US couple back home
‘WE ARE ALL SO TOUCHED BY THE SUPPORT OF THE IRISH PEOPLE THROUGH PRAYER, HELPFULNESS AND DONATIONS’
AN online crowdfunding account has been set up by the family of an American couple who were involved in a horrific car crash near Blarney in which two people lost their lives.
James Baker his wife Deborah from Columbia City, Indiana and his cousin Jack Adams and his wife Peggy Sue from Delphos, Ohio were travelling along the N20 Cork – Limerick Road near Blarney on September 11 when their car was involved in a collision with a truck at the Waterloo Junction near Blarney.
Their car, a hired Skoda Octavia that was being driven by Mr Adams, was travelling from Mallow towards Cork and was turning right across a lane of traffic coming from the Cork towards Waterloo when it collided with a truck that was heading in the Mallow direction.
As highlighted in The Corkman last week Gardai are investigating the possibility that the American tourists may have been using a sat nav that directed them to cross the outbound lane of traffic from Cork as the shortest possible way to get to Blarney village.
Mr Baker, who was sitting in the front seat of the car and Mrs Adams, who was sitting behind him were pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs Baker and Mr Adams were taken to the Cork University Hospital where they were both treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
While Mr Adams was released from hospital shortly after, Mrs Baker sustained a punctured lung and underwent surgery for injuries that included multiple bone fractures.
Following the tragedy the Baker family and friends in the US set up a GoFundMe in order to raise $75,000 to bring Mrs Baker home and repatriate her husbands remains as the couple, who had been married for 42-years and were visiting Ireland to trace their ancestry, had no travel insurance.
A statement on the page described the Baker’s as “the most real and nicest people you will ever meet.”
“They were never extravagant and valued family and friendship above all else. We were all so excited for them to go on this trip of a life time,” it read.
“Sadly, in addition to dealing with grief and their world falling apart, the Baker’s have some obstacles to overcome in the near future. Deb and Jim did not take out medical insurance and thus will have large medical bills.”
Due to her punctured lung. Mrs Baker will be unable to fly for a number of weeks and her family are looking into the possibility of bringing her back to the US by boat. There is also the additional cost of preparing Mr Baker and transporting his body back home.
“We all feel so helpless at a time like this and want to help the Baker family. First and foremost, pray for all of them for physical and emotional healing, strength and courage during this difficult time. The next best thing we can do is assist them financially to bring Jim and Debbie Home,” read the statement.
In an update posted to the page on Tuesday its creator, Molly Gabet, thanked people for the “amazing response” to the campaign which at the time of going to press has raised more than $25,000 in just five-days.
“In addition to all the family and friends from the USA who have donated to this campaign, we are all so touched by the support of the Irish people through prayers, hopefulness and donations,” wrote Ms Gabet.
“I am proud of my Irish heritage, as are the Baker’s.”
For more information about the ‘Help Bring Jim and Deb Baker Home’ fund or to donate follow the link at www.gofundme.com.