SIOUX CITY, IA -
There's now light at the end of the tunnel for a man who's turned his life around.
Friends and co-workers call him Billy, and he worked at Johnnie Mar's restaurant off Highway 75 in Sioux City. On April 29th, William Kammerer was on his way into work when his life changed almost instantly.
"It scared me, it scared me, you know bad things happen to good people, but it's never happened to someone that I've known,"said Leah Baryo, a friend and co-worker.
And she has known Billy for years.
"I grew up knowing Billy, so he was kind of like an older brother to me," she said.
He was the breakfast cook at Johnnie Mar's restaurant, and the owner, John Baryo, helped Billy out when times were tough.
"A lot of people ask me why I keep him around, because he was full of trouble, and I say, because he's a nice kid, and I believe he will change, and he did," Baryo said.
But then his life took a dramatic turn.
It happened at West 6th Street, & West Street. Billy was on his way into work, when a white pickup truck hit him and dragged his body 150 feet before he was dislodged from underneath the truck. The driver then drove away.
The driver, 21 year old Fernando Garcia, was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Yield, and Driving Without Insurance.
Police are still investigating what happened. Billy suffered several broken bones and is being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He just had another surgery Tuesday.
So friends and co-workers at the restaurant are trying to help Billy, who doesn't have health insurance. They started the William Kammerer Donation Fund and have already raised $5,000.
"Life still goes on around you, no matter what happens, so he's gonna have to take care of a lot of things, and he's got a baby on the way," Baryo said.
If you are interested in donating to the William Kammerer donation fund, you can go into Johnnie Mar's restaurant and donate there, or you can go to any WellsFargo branch here in Sioux city.
You can also visit: http://www.flyerboard.com/view/william-kammerer-donation-fund/4425/114701.html
They are also organizing a benefit night in Billy's honor to help raise money. We'll have details on that event when they become available.
