Fundraiser planned for vet's family
(Photo courtesy GOFUNDME.COM) A online fundraiser has been set up for Alan and Lisa Ropp. Alan Ropp was killed in a Nov. 11 motor vehicle collision and Lisa Ropp was seriously injured.
SANDPOINT — An online fundraising campaign is underway for a Sandpoint veteran who was killed in a motor vehicle collision on Veterans Day.
The account on GoFundMe.com benefits the family of Alan A. Ropp.
Idaho State Police said Ropp, 44, was killed when his vehicle was rear-ended on U.S. Highway 2 and pushed into oncoming traffic near West Pine Street on Nov. 11.
Carson Thomas McCormick was headed eastbound in a Nissan pickup truck when he crashed into the back of Ropp’s Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle, which placed it into the path of a westbound sport utility vehicle.
Ropp and his wife, Lisa, were en route to a Veterans Day dinner at the time of the crash, according to the GoFundMe.com post. Lisa Ropp, 33, was seriously injured in the collision and underwent surgery for a broken pelvis, collarbone, wrist and eye socket.
“After surgery they discovered she had suffered a stroke. They found she had several blood clots. They had to perform a second surgery to deal with the blood clots. She is currently in ICU at Sacred Heart Hospital with partial paralysis to her left side from the stroke and a multitude of serious injuries from the accident.
“They did not have emergency funds in place for this type of tragedy,” Sonny and Nadine Parker said on Ropp’s GoFundMe page.
The fundraiser seeks $25,000 to help with medical bills, expenses and to aid the couple’s children. As of Tuesday, $11,675 had been raised.
The Parkers said in a Nov. 19 update that Lisa Ropp is continuing to improve and has been moved out of ICU, but remains hospitalized.
“Her doctors hope that within the next few days she will be ready to be moved to St. Luke’s Rehabilitation facility,” the Parkers said in the update.
The Parkers said it’s unclear if McCormick, 20, was an insured motorist.
A celebration of Alan Ropp’s life is planned for January 2020, when Lisa is back home. Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
No charges have been in connection with the crash, according to Idaho’s iCourt database.
Information: gofundme.com/f/vet-tragically-killed-en-route-to-vet-dinner
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.