A 13-year-old Mission girl is spending the last week of her summer holidays helping a friend replace his bicycle after being involved in a hit and run incident last Wednesday.
When Jordyn Paige Donohue heard her schoolmate Tanner Whymark was knocked off his bike at the intersection of Hyde Street and Bracken Avenue by a truck, she didn't hesitate to help. The incident left Whymark with a broken ankle, bruises and other minor injuries. His bike was crushed.
Donohue set up a Facebook page, Let's Help Tanner Get a New Bike, to raise awareness and collect donations to buy Whymark a new mountain bike once he's well enough to ride again. The group already has more than 300 members.
Donohue says what happened to her friend makes her "sad and sick. Why would you hit a kid and just leave him?
"I hope he gets well soon."
Whymark's mom, Michelle, says her son. who loved to ride and tinker with his bike every day, is "very sore" and has a long road ahead of him.
"We're taking it day by day," she said, adding numerous medical appointments are on the horizon.
"He's very upset about his bike, which is toast."
Both mother and son are thankful for what Donohue is doing.
"Jordyn has a big, huge heart and she's an amazing girl. It's very touching."
A trust account has been set up at Prospera Credit Union to collect donations. The account number is 3216397.
Mission RCMP say the hit and run happened around 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 21. They are now looking for the truck and its three occupants who fled from the scene. The suspect vehicle is described as a newer black Ford F150 with silver trim.
Anyone with information about the hit and run is asked to contact Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161. If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. A cash reward of up to $2,000 will be paid for any information which leads to an arrest and charge.