Gilliam County, Ore. – Support is pouring in for a young teenager who was hurt in a deadly crash caused by a wrong-way driver on I-84. James is 13-years-old. He lost his mother in the crash Sunday morning. Anita Dugger was raising James on her own. Now his coaches and teachers from his school tell News Partner KGW, they’re stepping up with a GO-FUND-ME page so the teen doesn’t have to worry about the funeral expenses for his mother.


So far they’ve raised over $31,000. James is still recovering in the hospital, but he’s improving everyday.

More from the Go Fund Me page:

Hello Friends and Family,

On the morning of Sept. 15th, our dear friend Anita Dugger and her son James were involved in a two-vehicle crash on I-84.  Anita was pronounced dead at the scene and James was airlifted then transported to OHSU.

James is currently conscious and breathing on his own.  He has facial fractures, broken ribs, broken wrist, and had to have surgery to repair an aorta that caused internal bleeding.  He will remain at OHSU for the time being and there’s no estimated release date.  James is in great spirits, but he will now need his community more than ever.

Myself and Rusty Keith have created this fundraiser for James and his aunt and new guardian, Terry.  We have a special relationship with James as we have both coached him in basketball and football.  More importantly, James is like a son to us and a brother to his teammates. James loves his teammates and is always their biggest fan.  We need to help shine that light around him as he has for us.  Anita always told us James loved his South sports community, and since he’s been through a lot in life, we will make sure to fulfill her wishes and put James back on his feet to succeed on and off the field/court.  The outlook is slim for him to play the sports he loves again but with our help, we know he will defy all odds to be able to put on a South jersey again.

James was a super athlete for South Salem Saxons Football, Youth Stars Basketball as well as one of the top Track and Field athletes for Judson Middle School.  Sports is his life but he made sure he progressed in school, made time for his friends, and always spent as much time with his Mom as possible.  Anita was beaming to the moon when James got his grades close to a 3.0 for the first time in middle school last Spring.

Anita loved James with all her heart and soul.  Every penny she could muster went to him.  Anything he wanted to get, shoes for the season, food for our trips, she made sure she worked extra hard to provide for James.  As a single mom, Anita did an amazing job raising the person James is today.

As many of you know, James and Anita have been through more than most can comprehend.  Despite this, he has always held his head high and has amazed his friends and family with his strength and selflessness.

With every trial he has faced, he has always come out stronger. James will physically fight this, however, he needs whatever help you can give to assist.

We are creating this fundraiser to help for the funeral, memorial service, medical bills, and hopefully, some additional money to put in a Trust Fund he can access when he turns 18.

James was everything to Anita.  And James is everything to our community.  Our heart is broken, but we know Anita is in heaven looking over James and smiling that we are lifting him up as we rise together.

Rest in peace Anita, we promise to do whatever we can to make sure James fulfills his dreams.

We are in this #together #family #youthstars #saxons #judson #unitedwestand #strongertogether #hugyourlovedones

Sincerely and respectfully,

Coach Hemingway and Coach Keith

c/o South Salem Saxon Football Coaches, Youth Stars Basketball Coaches, Teachers and Coaches at Judson Middle School and Pringle Elementary School.

 

Read more on the crash  from Oregon State Police

On Sunday, September 15, 2019 at approximately 5:44 A.M. Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on I-84 near mile post 119.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Toyota Camry, operated by Josue Amando Lopez-Munoz (29) of Prosser, WA. was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.  He struck a eastbound PT Cruiser operated by Anita Dugger (33) of Salem, OR.

Lopez-Munoz sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Dugger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

A 13 year old male in the PT Cruiser was transported by air ambulance to The Dalles and later by ground to OHSU in Portland.

OSP was assisted by North Gilliam Fire Department, Life flight, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, Gilliam County DA, Gilliam County ME, Benton County (WA) Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.