Family plans benefit for Janesville man
JANESVILLE — Jerrie McCarty will never forget looking at the face that didn’t look anything like her cousin Josh Krueger.
Now she and her family wait as Krueger learns to remember conversations he just had with his loved ones.
Krueger, 35, was injured Nov. 2 in a 2:26 a.m. collision with what police say was a drunken driver on Highway 51 south of Janesville. He is staying at Lakeview Specialty Hospital and Rehab, Waterford, where every day he goes through three hours of speech, occupational and physical therapy.
McCarty is organizing a benefit to raise money for Krueger’s hospital bills and pay for expenses for his four children. The event will feature five local bands, karaoke and an Elvis tribute artist and will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Tremors Bar & Grill, 1802 Center Ave., Janesville.
Krueger was driving and Rachel Randell was riding shotgun when police say a car driven by Hector Aldamatadeo, 17, Oregon, crossed the centerline and struck the couple’s Chevrolet Venture van as they were turning into the drive at Rockvale Mobile Home Park, 6219 S. Highway 51, Janesville.
Aldamatadeo is charged with causing injury by drunken driving, and his case is pending in Rock County Court.
Randell glanced at Krueger just before the crash.
All she saw was his airbag before losing consciousness, Randell said.
EMTs took Randell to Beloit Memorial Hospital with several injuries, including a broken right leg. Krueger was taken by helicopter to Rockford Memorial Hospital, where he was in intensive care for 22 days.
It was 6:30 a.m. by the time Krueger’s family was notified of the crash and got to Rockford. They didn’t get to see Krueger before his first surgery, but they took turns looking in on him afterward.
“I’ll never forget his face,” McCarty said. “If someone hadn’t said it was Josh, I wouldn’t have known.”
Krueger was on a respirator in a medically induced coma for 22 days. He was at Rockford Memorial for more than a month before moving to rehab in Waterford.
Randell still has pain in her right leg, although she no longer needs a wheelchair or walker to get around.
Krueger, a former broadband technician for Charter Communications, is able to talk to his family on the phone or when they visit. He has had no loss of language, but his short-term memory has been damaged, his mother, Carol Oliver, said.
While he can have conversations, he often forgets that he had them, Oliver said.
Krueger can maneuver from the bed to his wheelchair but is unable to put his full weight on his left leg, Oliver said.
It is likely that Krueger eventually will come home, and the family has worked to make the mobile home accessible, Randell said. He could be in rehabilitative care for six months, Oliver said.
“He has to come home,” Randell said. “The kids can’t live without him. He can’t live without the kids.”
Randell and Krueger have four children, ages 18 months to 6 years.
For now, the family is concentrating on Krueger’s day-to-day improvement.
“The goal is to get him to the benefit,” McCarty said.
IF YOU GO
What: Benefit for Janesville resident Josh Krueger and his family
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, until 2 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25.
Where: Tremors Bar & Grill, 1802 Center Ave., Janesville.
Cost: $10 donation will include free soda and free beer for a limited time
Details: Krueger, 35, was badly injured in November in a crash with what police say was a drunken driver. While he is going through major rehabilitation, his family seeks money to help with medical bills and expenses for his four young children. Cash donations can be mailed to Josh Krueger Benefit, Blackhawk Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1366, Janesville, WI, 53547-1366.
Entertainment: Karaoke; Shawn Sharp, Elvis tribute artist, 2 to 4:30 p.m.; Back Bar Band, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Down Fall, 7 to 8 p.m.; Dynamite Society, 8:30 to 10 p.m.; and The Buzz, 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
For more information: Call Jerrie McCarty at (608) 774-2533
Getting home safely: The family is looking for donations for bus or cab rides home for attendees.
Jan 12, 2009 at 8:34 p.m.
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I am a cousin of josh's too. I had a premature baby 11 years ago and had a benefit at a bar that jerri put together but that didnt bother anyone to have a benefit for a baby at a bar!!!We were gonna have the benefit elsewhere but the cost got to high when you figure the costs of everything! The bar donated the place, entertainment and yes the beer. Lets face it bars and music bring more people out. I hope this will be a big success for josh, rachell, and the kids. I hope to see you there.
Jan 12, 2009 at 8:05 p.m.
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I just don't understand....why doesn't this all boil down to good wishes?
There is a benefit people. There are bills to be paid. There are people in pain.
I am SO against drunk driving (if you remember my previous posts) but that is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Why is everyone trying to punish people for things that haven't even happened?
The sad part is if it's a quiet night, all the naysayers won't take back their words about the serving of alcohol. If someone makes a bad choice and drinks and drives, you'll never hear the end of it.
They have it both ways.
Jan 12, 2009 at 6:46 p.m.
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Thanks JIMBEAM for the comment. I also want to thank the people who have called today with donations for our Family, its great to know there are people in our community that care! Always remember - pay it forward- it will always come back to you.
To the others- no matter what you say to try to hurt our family or make this matter worse than it already is, it will never get in the way of our family surviving this traggic accident or anything else that may come our way- WE ARE A FAMILY AND NOTHING OR NOBODY CAN CHANGE THAT!
Jan 12, 2009 at 6:38 p.m.
Jan 12, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
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I agree with suzy50 and NRock. It should not matter where this will be held or the types of drinks that are served. This is a benefit to help Josh and his family. I feel we are all adults here and if you cannot control your alcohol intake or be in an establishment that serves alcohol, then please do not come to the benefit. Josh, Jerrie and their families deserve respect, not nasty comments.
Jan 12, 2009 at 5:17 p.m.
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Does it matter how the benefit is being held or why its happening the fact is a Family member was criticially injured and someone in his family is trying to help the other family member because she loves her family! Was it also noted that Josh's stepmother- Laura Krueger ( and Jerrie's Aunt) was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and Jerrie had a benefit for her at a bar as well ( 6 months ago) and nothing bad was said. This is about family taking care of family in any way possible. A person hurts the same no matter how there family or friends are injured!
Jan 12, 2009 at 5 p.m.
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I have not seen Josh in a few years and didnt know he was hurt.I just read about it in the paper today. I will be going and I would be happy to help him and his family !
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:56 p.m.
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I am going and I WILL be hitting the free food and soda. My husband will probably have 2-3 beers. I will drive home, even though he'll be feeling fine. It's called responsibility.
The benefit will be of great help to his family. Jerrie is doing a great thing. I can't even imagine how much work it must take to do this kind of thing. I would hope there was some one out there that would do the same for me and my family if such a tragedy were to happen. It wouldn't matter where it was or who was invited. God Bless that family and I pray that the benefit is a success!
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:22 p.m.
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I just think lots of people love to throw stones! Josh was involved with bands and for these bands to donate there time, the bar to donate the place to have the benefit, and the people who are putting this together, it is a good thing for a great cause!
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
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hdude- I didnt say I have a problem but thanks for your concern. I am saying I have seen people drink WAY more than if they had to pay for it. I know it isnt fee it is ALL you can drink for only $10.
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
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this benefit is to help the CHILDREN of a person that was in an accident with a drunk driver. Why not take it from the so-called "bad bar drunks" instead of "goodie goodies" who never drink, and are perfect in the worlds eye. If you don't support it, don't go. No ones begging you to be there. Its not free beer, you pay a donation of $10 to get it. An by the way....SODA is available.
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:06 p.m.
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comments. I know a billion people who drive home a little intoxicated, and .08 BAC is not intoxicated to me. The effects are different in everyone. But thats my opinion and I would hope it is respected the same.
Jan 12, 2009 at 4:04 p.m.
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I respect everyones opinions, but it is disrespect unless you know Josh or know exactly what went on that evening before making rational .
Jan 12, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.
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Hannah if you have such a problem monitoring your alcohol intake maybe you could hit the free food and pop instead of the beer!
Jan 12, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.
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snarly i highly doubt the other driver had car insurance , his car wasnt registered , and he also didnt have a valid drivers license
Jan 12, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.
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happytime, according to the police report he was arrested for drunk driving first offense, but those charges were later dropped, although it was also stated his driver license was revoked
Jan 12, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
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happytime- yes that seems a bit weird. all you can drink and drive for $10. Does anyone else knows what happens when beer is FREE or $10? They try to drink ALL they can. Hope they bring their DD's!!! or walk there.
Jan 12, 2009 at 2:40 p.m.
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Packerbacker you are blaming the bar for the drunk?
I have never been to a bar that forces you to drink alcohol?
Never mind that there are bars in Wisconsin are family run business that contribute to more charity's that most non for profit could dream of.
Let's not bite the hand that feeds us.
Jan 12, 2009 at 2:31 p.m.
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This just disgusts me, benefit yes fine At a bar??? Understandable the family needs help with these bills, but makes no sense to do this at a bar when the whole problem in the first place probably originated at a bar.
Jan 12, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
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Even without all the finger pointing, this young man has a very long road...going to live in a a mobile home the family is trying to make accessible?
Living with a head injury with 4 kids under 6 years old?
A head injury is bad enough for the person who has it, let alone the family that has to endure him. The household may be too noisy and busy for him to be able to live in it.
Jan 12, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.
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The benefit is at a bar...you don't think the bar will serve booze? Too bad they didn't have it somewhere else though. Somewhere family friendly without the booze.
Jan 12, 2009 at 1:21 p.m.
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Is free beer necessary, we don't need anymore victims, this should have been a dinner, raffle or anything but I think its pretty tacky to have a benefit for a drunken driving victim that serves free beer and puts others in danger of also being a victim!!
Jan 12, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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Happytime...no kidding! Let's have a benefit for the victim of a drunk driver at a BAR! Well, the mentality is that more people will show up if free beer is served. How sad. Why not have it at the Union Hall and have some kind of dinner or raffles instead? I just don't get it either.
Jan 12, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
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The original articles said that Josh was drunk too, it was his second offense. Look them up in the archives. So they are having a fundraiser in a bar for drunk driving related injuries and also having free beer. Anyone see a problem here?
Jan 12, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.
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Snarly: I think they removed the comment because of your naughty remark about "taking the driver out back and ......"
Jan 12, 2009 at 11:11 a.m.
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comment removed for letting every one know jerrie will put on a good benefit she will and for the other person that hit them did he have insurance WELL HOW ABOUT IT STAFF DID THAT PERSON HAVE INSURANCE. I STILL STAND BY MY OTHER COMMENTS THAT PERSON SHOULD BE PUT AWAY.
Jan 12, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
Jan 12, 2009 at 8:54 a.m.
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The cab ride home for the attendees is a great idea.