£ 65k raised for family horror crash survivors
WELL- WISHERS have donated nearly £ 70,000 to the survivors of a horrific car crash that killed four members of a family of six.
More than 1,500 people have donated to the fundraising page created after the deaths of Zoe Powell, 29, and three of her four young children – Phoebe, eight, Simeon, six, and Amelia, four.
Mrs Powell’s husband Josh, 30, a civil engineer working on railways, and their 18- month- old daughter Penny survived the accident. It happened on the A40 in Oxfordshire on Monday night when their people carrier collided with a lorry.
The father and daughter in a serious condition in hospital. But police say they are showing signs of improvement and are expected to recover.
The tragedy came months after the family were forced into temporary accommodation after a fire at their home in Chinnor, South Oxfordshire.
Talented illustrator Mrs Powell – a regular churchgoer – had managed to save some treasured belongings which they had put in their are temporary accommodation. Mrs Powell, who had been married for 10 years, ran an art and cards business alongside her parenting blog.
The fundraising page, set up by Mr Powell’s colleague Andrew Welsford, has so far raised £ 67,762 for Mr Powell.
On the page Mr Welsford writes: “This is such a sad and tragic loss for a work colleague on the railway, whose family have been taken from him in a tragic car crash near Oxford.”
In a reference to railway workers’ distinctive orange uniform,
the post added: “Many people in the world of the Orange Army will know Josh and I hope will contribute to give him some financial support when he needs later in recovery.”
Talking about the civil engineer, one donor wrote: “Big man with even a bigger heart. Words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss.
“I hope you find the strength to get through this tragic time. All my thoughts are with you and the little one.”
Another added: “I don’t know you and never will, but as a father and husband my heart hurts to think about this. No words can help right now, so sorry.”
The lorry driver, a 56- year- old man, suffered minor injuries and has cooperated fully with the investigation, officers said.
There have been no arrests, and detectives have requested witnesses or those with dash- cam footage to contact them to help their inquiries.
The fundraising page can be found at justgiving. com/ crowdfunding/ andrew- welsford