Soccer players rally for rival team after crash leaves Logan teens critically injured
Mar 29, 2022, 11:00 PM | Updated: Jun 13, 2022, 10:42 pm
LOGAN, Utah — The Cache Valley high school soccer community is coming together for two teens critically injured in a crash on their way to school.
The Logan High School brothers, 14-year-old Surafel and 18-year-old Kirubel Mesfin, are each in separate hospitals with surgeries and a long road to recovery ahead after Monday morning’s accident with a water truck.
Kirubel is a manager for the Logan High School soccer team, both family and soccer community members explained.
The team was scheduled to play a game the day after the crash.
The opposing team in that game, Ridgeline High School soccer team in Millville, knew it would be hard on their rivals.
That’s why before kickoff Tuesday, players and coaches from each team met on the field and cast aside competition for compassion.
Photos show a Ridgeline soccer coach hugging Logan High soccer coach Natalie Norris, as she holds a card signed by Ridgeline players.
“The coaches talked and just said we wanted to be supportive and wanted them to know that our thoughts and prayers were with them and their team at this time, and the families that have been affected by this accident,” said Laura Garvert, a Ridgeline Soccer parent.
In addition to the card, Garvert described how the team got together fast and raised more than $4,500 for the Mesfin brothers and their family as they deal with sudden expenses.
According to family and police, Kirubel and Surafel were on their way to Logan High where Kirubel is a senior and Surafel is a sophomore, when they got into a crash with a water truck.
The brothers are in separate hospitals in Ogden and Salt Lake City, family indicated, with Kirubel the worst off.
“Within the span of four hours, he underwent multiple emergency brain and heart surgeries. While those have been successful. Currently, he still has more procedures to repair his broken arms, wrists, hips and spine,” the GoFundMe states. “Surafel is in a stable condition, but similar to Kirubel, he still has a long road to recovery ahead of him.”
The GoFundMe* fundraiser states that it aims to ease the financial burden, and added that the boys’ father recently overcame a severe cancer, so this crash will hurt the family even further.
Knowing Kirubel’s team was playing Tuesday without him there, Ridgeline quickly rallied, and Garvert said the whole team made a post on social media, with teammates sharing the fundraiser with friends.
Within 24 hours, she said more than 100 donations poured in.
People were still sending donations during the soccer game Tuesday evening.
“I was so, so touched by how many people — I mean, there were students to people that aren’t even in this state that were donating. So, it was amazing,” Garvert expressed.
A quick show of support that raised thousands of dollars for these two brothers as their families focus on taking care of them, with the hope of raising spirits during a horrible time.
“I hope that they recover,” Garvert said, adding, “and I hope that they feel the support of all these people around them.”
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
