Benefit To Help Workers Injured In Crash

CHATHAM – Codo Mexican Kitchen will donate all of its proceeds from dinner sales today (Thursday, July 9) to benefit two employees who were severely injured in an accident on July 4.

 The two restaurant workers, J-1 students from Serbia, were riding home after their shift when the scooter they were riding on was struck by a car. They were taken to the hospital with critical injuries including a broken collarbone and fractured vertebrae, according to a social media post by the restaurant.

 According to Deputy Police Chief Louis Malzone, the scooter was traveling west on Route 28 when a vehicle traveling east on the road turned onto Morton Road and struck the scooter. Both of those on the scooter were wearing helmets, he added. The operator of the motor vehicle was cited for failing to yield when turning left, Malzone said.

 Vanya Johnston, marketing executive for Codo owner Coastal Hospitality Group, said 100 percent of the proceeds from 4 p.m. on will go directly to support the two workers during their recovery. The fact that their families are 5,000 miles away “has made this especially difficult, which is why the outpouring of support from the community has meant so much,” she wrote in an email. 

 She added that the students remain hospitalized “but are getting better day by day. They both have a long road to recovery ahead of them, but we’re grateful to see steady progress.” Funds raised will help with medical expenses, lost wages, transportation and living expenses while they heal.

 A GoFundMe campaign has also been set up for the students. Anyone who cannot make Thursday’s fundraiser at Codo can donate at gofund.me/62485f4e8.

 Malzone said the incident is a reminder that at this time of year, people are using various forms of transportation on local roads. 

 “Everybody, just be aware and share the road,” he said.