'Help Ric After Devastating Motorcycle Collision': At 72, Man Needs The Joliet Community To Stand With Him

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Patch has produced multiple articles about the 44-year-old man arrested and still in the Will County Jail following the Aug. 16 crash in front of the Milano's Bakery, but now, Zach Shortley wants the Joliet community to help support the victim of the devastating motorcycle crash.

Shortley has established a GoFundMe with the goal of topping at least $16,000 to help 72-year-Ric Curran, "a passionate motorcyclist from Joliet ... involved in a devastating motorcycle collision that has left him facing an unimaginable road to recovery."

According to the GoFundMe, "While riding his Honda Goldwing, Ric was struck by an SUV and, in a horrifying sequence of events, was run over multiple times before an off-duty police officer intervened and stopped the vehicle. The driver has since been charged with aggravated DUI. Ric was rushed to a nearby hospital and ultimately airlifted to the nearest Level 1 trauma center due to the severity of his injuries. He suffered extensive trauma to his legs, torso, and upper body. His recovery will require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and support that no one should have to face alone."

The GoFundMe is called "Help Ric After a Devastating Motorcycle Collision."

Shortley explained his reasoning for establishing the GoFundMe, stating: "He has Medicare, but the portion he’s responsible for could still be a huge burden, especially with such a long hospital stay and continued surgeries. Once his stay at the hospital is over, he’ll still have rehab and a long recovery ahead of him. As of this writing, Ric has been in the hospital for almost a month and the accident couldn’t have happened at a worse time when he was supposed to start his new job the next day."