Amputee's Friend Seeks Financial Help Following Oakland Motorcycle Crash

OAKLAND, NJ — More than $9,000 has been donated to support the family of a man who had part of his leg amputated and suffered critical injuries following a motorcycle crash on West Oakland Avenue in June.

Douglas Murken was severely injured when the Honda Accord Jared D. Kovar was driving crashed into Murken's motorcycle, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal previously said. Kovar's Accord crossed the double yellow line and hit the motorcycle head-on, the prosecutor said.

Kovar, of Wayne, was texting when the crash occurred, Grewal said. Authorities found a small amount of heroin in Kovar's car, Grewal said. Kovar was charged with aggravated assault by auto.

Murken was airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center. He had his right leg amputated above the knee and had surgery on his right elbow, Murken's friend Steve Lawlor stated in an update on the GoFundMe webpage created to help him. He's also had trouble speaking, and was unable to move the right side of his body, Lawlor stated, but did manage to say "thank you" to all of the supporters from his hospital bed recently.

Lawlor hopes to raise $20,000 to help Murken's wife, Elaine, and their daughter, Ashley. Elaine only works part time.

"This man should not watch his family become homeless because of the careless actions of someone else," Lawlor said on the GoFundMe page.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photos:

A picture of Douglas Murken in his hospital bed. The picture is posted on the GoFundMe webpage created to help Murken and his family.

Jared D. Kovar — Bergen County Prosecutor's Office

Related: Wayne Man's Texting While Driving Caused Serious Motor Vehicle Crash: Prosecutor