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NILES — A GoFundMe account has been launched to support a Niles family involved in a deadly crash last week.

Lauren Mendez launched a GoFundMe account “Freimuth Family Memorial and Medical Fund” for Niles couple Ty and Niki Freimuth and their two-year-old son Harrison, who were involved in a crash involving a semi truck which killed Ty and seriously injured Harrison and Niki. The family was heading back from a family spring break trip to the Wisconsin Dells last week when their car was hit from behind by a semi truck at a very high rate of speed after traffic came to a stop on the highway near Hammond, Ind., sandwiching their vehicle between another semi and killing Ty upon impact.

Harrison and Niki were hospitalized in Chicago, with Harrison being released and recovering from a cervical fracture and torn ligaments in his neck. He will be in a collar for six weeks and according to Mendez he is “running and is smiling and happy and terrorizing grandma’s cat like the silly 2-year-old boy he is.”

Niki suffered severe facial trauma with multiple fractured facial bones along with a brain bleed and multiple rib, back, and bilateral arm fractures. She is currently intubated to preserve her damaged airway. She had facial reconstruction surgery and is scheduled for surgery this week for repair of her left hand. 

“The doctor says she did well in surgery but will likely have a good amount of pain for a while,” Mendez said. “She remains intubated and in intensive care at this time so she still won’t be able to communicate verbally yet but her family and friends can’t wait to see her when she comes out of recovery. We know it won’t stop her from attempting to communicate any other way she can. Thumbs up has been her go-to move.”

As of 10:15 a.m. Thursday, the Freimuth’s GoFundMe has raised $680 $44,132 toward its $50,000 goal. According to Mendez, Niki’s friends and family do not want her to feel pressure to worry about any finances or bills at this time. 

“Niki’s focus needs to be on recovery- physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Mendez wrote. “In the coming weeks when she is more stable, more decisions will be made regarding funeral arrangements for Ty. For now, those closest to her want to raise money for the family to cover the costs for when that time comes. So much is out of our hands but this is one way we can help. … Thank you again to everyone who has offered support in every form. It has been beautiful to watch so many people come together through this.”