On August 6 at approximately 7:15 a.m., Sal Gomez of Selden, 43, was competing in the bicycle portion of the Smith Point Triathlon when a woman drove onto the race route and collided with him, according to police. Gomez was seriously injured as a result, and now his family is running a desperate crowdfunding campaign to cover his mounting hospital bills.
The accident took place in the parking lot of Smith Point County Park, which was closed to vehicle traffic for the race. The driver - Ramona Jakeline Figueroa-Lopez of Westbury, 29 - was arrested and charged with Reckless Driving, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Driving without a Court Ordered Interlock Device.
Figueroa-Lopez - who was reportedly attempting to exit the closed parking lot at the time of the collision but instead ventured into the race, cops say - was released on a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on August 25.
Gomez, a husband and father of two, was taken via Suffolk County Police medevac to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment; his family has turned to crowdfunding website GoFundMe to help raise funds for his treatment while he is "fighting for his life" with serious brain and bodily injuries.
"Hello my name is Caesar Figueroa and I want to start this fundraiser for Sal Gomez for this hard time what his family going through!" the GoFundMe page reads. "Trying to raise money for medical bills and expenses for the family, he is in the hospital fighting for his life. He is married with 2 beautiful kids Sal is a loving father and loves to run marathons and he was practicing for a Ironman race next year! He did his first race yesterday and got hit by a car during the race please let’s help his family in need!!"
You can donate to the Sal Gomez GoFundMe campaign - which currently has $48,219 raised of its $50,000 goal - by clicking here.