Fundraiser held for family of college student killed in crash on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh
ROLESVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Rolesville McDonald's is rallying around one of their own who was involved in a tragic car accident that killed her brother on Christmas Eve.
Raleigh police say 18-year-old Aaleyah Russell was driving south on Capital Boulevard when her car hydroplaned, crossed the median and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck. Her older brother, 19-year-old Ashanie Russell died on the scene; she and their younger brother Michael Gregory were injured along with two people who were in the truck.
Aaleyah had been working at the Rolesville McDonald's for the last year and when her boss heard about what happened she wanted to help.
"We kind of pride ourselves on being the McFamily here and it's like, 'What can we do,'" said Carol Martin, Rolesville McDonald's owner and operator.
She decided that on Wednesday, Jan. 7 half of the restaurant's proceeds would go to the Russell family to help cover medical expenses.
"Ashanie touched so many people that it doesn't take much for us to come out to McDonald's," said Julia Thompson, a friend of Ashanie's from Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville.
Their pastor Richard Mills said 14-year-old Michael Gregory is still in the hospital struggling to recover.
"To hear that McDonald's was going to do this just blessed my heart," said Mills. "And I was gonna make sure I had a Big Mac here today."
Ashanie was a former Wake Forest High School football player in his sophomore year at ECU. Those who knew him said he never met a stranger.
"There are people out there everywhere you turn that are in Rolesville today that are going, 'How can we help them? What can we do,'" said Martin. "They barely know them! They're coming in today and they're buying a cup of coffee and it's their little way to help."
