EVERETT — More than $11,500 has been pledged to help a severely injured Darrington man after he was struck by a Snohomish County sheriff’s patrol car during a chain-reaction crash in Everett last week.
Contributions to help Tom Gillette, 59, have been coming in through an online fundraiser. It can be found at www.gofundme.com/loveandsupporttom.
Gillette was pinned between the patrol car and a parked truck. His legs were crushed. The fundraising site says that Gillette lost parts of both legs.
“We want to thank everyone from the bottom of hearts who have already made contributions to help support Tom and his loving wife Margarita through this most difficult time in their lives,” said family friend Erin Green, who has helped set up the fundraising campaign.
Gillette remains at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and faces additional surgeries. His extended family has remained by his side.
“The family appreciates all those who have offered their love, support and well wishes through this difficult time,” she said.
Plans also are under way to have a benefit concert on his behalf.
Gillette was part of a crew working on improvements to a house in that north Everett neighborhood. Four other people were injured in the crash and received treatment at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy John Sardo was driving south on Rockefeller Avenue in his marked Ford Crown Victoria patrol car when his vehicle was struck by a westbound Honda Element being driven along 23rd Street. The patrol car rotated counterclockwise and hit Gillette, who was standing at the back of his parked Ford F250 pickup.
The incident occurred shortly before noon April 17.
There is a stop sign on Rockefeller as it crosses 23rd Street. The Washington State Patrol is leading the accident investigation. It could take several months, trooper Mark Francis said Monday.
Sardo, 54, is on paid administrative leave. That is standard procedure when a deputy is involved in a major accident.
The patrol’s Major Accident Investigation Team is asking for witnesses to the accident or any events leading up to it to call Detective Sgt. Jerry Cooper at 425-508-0602 or Detective Ed Collins at 425-766-4084.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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