DEKALB, Ind. (AP): An online fundraising campaign has raised nearly $12,000 of the $20,000 goal to pay for the funeral costs of a northeastern Indiana high school football player killed in a traffic accident hours before he was to play in a game.
Thank you, @Montel_Williams for all of your support! https://t.co/wi7409NJtr
— DeKalbHighSchool (@DeKalbHS) September 5, 2016
A GoFundMe account was established after 17-year-old running back Derek Padilla of DeKalb High School died at the scene of the three-vehicle crash Friday afternoon at a rural intersection west of Auburn.
Padilla’s funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.
EVERYONE WEAR ALL BLACK AND RED TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY TO HONOR DEREK PADILLA, AND LUCAS OBERKISER #PrayForDekalb
— Chandler Ritter (@chandog101) September 5, 2016
A passenger in Padilla’s car, 16-year-old fellow player Lucas Oberkiser, remained hospitalized Monday in critical condition. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $5,000 to cover his medical costs.
Among those tweeting support for Oberkiser and DeKalb were Russell Westbrook of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and talk show host Montel Williams.
Sending all prayers to @Lucas_Oberkiser & @DeKalbHS. Let’s all #PrayForDekalb & give him the strength he needs to get through this.
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) September 5, 2016
DeKalb’s game against New Haven Friday was canceled.
