More than $8000 has been raised for a Wallan family in less than a week after Shaun Hazelwood-Smith lost his life in a car crash in Wallan last Monday.
Wallan Highway Patrol Sergeant Scott Mills said the vehicle lost control in wet conditions while travelling west on Darraweit Road and collided with a roadside object.
He said that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, no-one else was injured and there was no direct evidence of speed.
Upon learning of the crash, Isabel Low, her father Dean and Shaun’s niece Brooke Kambouris set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the Hazelwood-Smith family during the difficult time.
Ms Low said they had received a few calls from people asking how they could help and decided starting a GoFundMe and sharing it on Facebook was the best way.
“Some of Shaun’s mates called Dad and were just wondering how they could help out, what they could do, they wanted to throw a hat around and help out Melinda and the kids,” she said.
As of yesterday, $4270 has been raised by 54 people in five days.
Ms Low said she had recognised familiar names in the community that have chipped in to help the family out.
“I’ve been checking who has been donating and there are some familiar names to me, a lot of the girls’ friends and people who don’t necessarily know Shaun personally but know the daughters,” she said.
“They’ve got lots of support which is good and Shaun always helped everyone else, he would go above and beyond to help everyone else.”
Ms Low said the money would be a great help to the family.
“That night we went around and they were already stressed about selling everything so we just thought the GoFundMe, whatever they need to use it for, they could use it for,” she said.
To help the Hazelwood-Smith family, visit bit.ly/2GbbEmO to donate.
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