Community Rallies For Cape Nursing Student After Crash, Fire

WEST BARNSTABLE, MA — The Cape Cod Community College and Fall River communities are rallying around a nursing student who is fighting for life after a hit-and-run crash and whose home caught fire over the weekend.

On Jan. 23, Emily Daddona, 22, of Fall River, was hit by a drunken driver on Route 24 in Bridgewater, when she was driving home from work, according to authorities.

"She is currently in critical condition at MGH (Massachusetts General Hospital), comatose and mechanically ventilated," said Daddona's classmate and friend Katelyn Benotti on a GoFundMe page created on Jan. 25. "She has moderate brain injuries, with brain swelling that will not come down, and several skeletal fractures."

But things took a turn for the worse, when Daddona's home caught fire on Saturday.

"While she is fighting for her life, her home she shared with her boyfriend has caught on fire as of today (01/29/22)," Benotti said. "For this, I will raise our overall goal, as there are multiple damaging expenses on the table to consider."

As of Monday night, the GoFundMe page has raised nearly $25,000 of its $50,000 goal.

"Emily Daddona is an incredible daughter, sister, friend, and many more," Benotti said. "Emily was supposed to walk graduation with my class and I this May as nursing students at Cape Cod Community College. She was one of the best in class and felt passionate to start her career as a registered nurse this 2022."

Those that wish to donate to Daddona's campaign can do so here.