Conductor Loses Leg After Being Hit By Train In Waltham; Friends, Strangers Rally

WALTHAM, MA — The train conductor who slipped off the platform and was struck by the train he was on as it neared the Brandeis MBTA station in Waltham on Monday, seriously injuring his leg, had to have it amputated. As he recovers, friends and family are imploring the community to help cover the costs of living while he recovers.

Ten hours after a GoFundMe account was set up to help Donald David, who has a wife and two young children, nearly 100 people donated $6,202 toward a $10,000 goal. By Friday morning, more than 160 people had donated nearly $10,000 and David family moved the goal to $50,000. (Get breaking news alerts about Waltham by singing up for this free Waltham Patch Newsletter)

"My husband wants to let everyone know that [he's] doing great. Yesterday he had successful surgery to close the wound and he should be out of the hospital soon. He wants to personally Thank You the waltham and Brandeis PD, the Firefighters who were on site, Ems first responders, his employer MBTA Keolis, his Co-workers, his passengers on the Train, his friends and family, the Media, his hospital staff, everyone who kept him in his prayers and everyone who support him on his GoFundMe page," reads the note.

David, whose leg was amputated below the knee, has worked on the railroad for close to five years, according to the GoFundMe page.

"We all know even the best insurance does not cover the cost of everyday living. Recovering from an injury such as Donald’s requires weeks of hospitalization, months of rehabilitation, and the potential for other surgeries or setbacks that come from such an injury," it reads.

"Who will take Donald to the hospital? Who will help him with everyday functions that he used to be able to do on his own? Who will help with his two young children? Who will help pay for his home to be updated for his mobility? Who will help pay the bills? This injury isn’t over when Donald comes home from the hospital, it’s just beginning."

Here's the GoFundMe