Crash victim overwhelmed at fundraiser to help pay his medical bills
BUTLER TWP — Hugs, handshakes, good wishes and promises of continued prayer rained down on an overwhelmed Ryan Davidson on Saturday, as friends and strangers alike came to the Butler Moose to support his fundraiser.
Davidson, 36, of Butler Township, was pulled from his burning car on Nov. 30 by two Butler Township Police officers and the township public safety director after he suffered a seizure and crashed on Fairground Hill Road.
“It’s awesome,” Davidson said as he surveyed the room with a beaming smile. “It goes to show the generosity of the people and the support.”
Davidson does not remember anything about that day, which he spent working at his job delivering food for a local Chinese restaurant.
“I woke up in the hospital a week later and asked what was going on,” he said.
Davidson was cared for at UPMC West Penn Hospital’s burn unit, where he was placed in a medically induced coma while doctors worked on his burns.
“I got good care there,” he said.
He said some days are easier than others, both mentally and physically.
On Saturday, his injuries were barely evident, but his gratitude was obvious.
When asked what the gofundme.com total of about $21,000, and the proceeds of Saturday’s fundraiser would be spent on household bills and medical bills, Davidson said.
“Just like everybody else,” he said.
Officer Rachel Dovidio, who with officer William Dobson, pulled Davidson from the burning SUV, stopped by the fundraiser in her police uniform.
She said when she and Dobson arrive at other car fires, the driver and any passengers are normally standing off to the side somewhere.
So when the officers pulled up to the scene, both began surveying the area around the car to find the driver.
Then Dovidio saw Scott Frederick, township public safety director, plunge his hand into the burning SUV to try and unclip the driver’s seat belt.
Dovidio began sprinting toward the car with Dobson, who had just realized the driver still was inside, hot on her heels.
“I just grabbed him by his shirt and yanked,” she said. “He seemed pretty light from the adrenaline.”
Dovidio, who spent 14 years in the Marine Corps, said she and Dobson dragged the unconscious Davidson away from the car, and Butler Ambulance personnel immediately readied him for a trip to Butler Memorial Hospital and a helicopter ride to Pittsburgh.
She said she didn’t think his burns looked too bad, but she worried about the amount of time he spent breathing the caustic smoke from the burning car.
“The real heroes are the ones who had him after me,” Dovidio said of the EMTs and medical personnel who worked to save Davidson’s life.
She was glad to see a good turnout at the spaghetti dinner benefit at the Moose.
“It’s really heartwarming when you see everyone gather around and pull together to help him,” Dovidio said of the support Davidson has seen since his accident. “It’s a horrible situation that had a great out come and the community continues to come together.”
In addition to spaghetti with meatballs or penne with Alfredo sauce, people in attendance on Saturday could participate in various games of chance, enter to win one of 47 raffle baskets, or purchase Saeler-Solkovy Memorial Ride apparel.
Shari Saeler-Vinroe said 100% of the money taken in through the apparel sale would be donated to Davidson, whose mother has volunteered for past Saeler-Solkovy Memorial Rides.
“She helped us out, so we thought, hey, we need to step up to the plate and help her, because her son is in need,” Saeler-Vinroe said.
Jim Kenaan of Butler Township, downed a plate of pasta Saturday to support the man who has delivered Chinese food to his home for three years.
“It was a shock when he was in the accident, because he had been to our house the weekend before,” Kenaan said. “He was always a nice guy to talk to.”
Kenaan said his dog, Wrinkles, always greeted Davidson excitedly when he would deliver food.
Kenaan said he also donated to Davidson’s GoFundMe account and is glad the community supported him at the benefit dinner.
“Butler County people support each other,” he said.
Eunice Zabicki of Butler Township, Davidson’s grandmother, attended the event with his other grandmother, two aunts and Davidson’s brother.
Zabicki was impressed with the turnout on Saturday as well.
“The ones I really adore are the three who got him out of the car,” she said.
Amber Madliger, vice president at the Moose and a longtime friend of Davidson’s mother, Patty Zabicki, coordinates many fundraisers at the Moose, but Saturday’s was special.
“Whenever something tragic like this happens in the community, people here come together,” Madliger said.
Patty Zabicki also said she appreciated everyone who donated food for the dinner, raffle baskets, time or money to her son.
“It’s amazing the support our community has shown him,” she said. “We are thankful for every single person who has contributed to him in any way.
“’Thank you’ just doesn’t seem like enough.”
