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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

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James Hastings benefit will aid him and family

(Nov. 13, 2014) Members of the Berlin community will hold a fundraiser Saturday for 49-year-old James Hastings, who suffered severe injuries after being hit by a car as he pulled out of his driveway on a scooter in August.
Berlin Police said the Aug. 27 accident occurred as Hastings pulled out on Buckingham Road and was struck by a motorist traveling east. Police also the property Hastings was exiting was partially hidden by a chain-link fence.
The car struck the left side of the scooter, throwing Hastings to the ground with the scooter falling on top of him. Police also said Hastings was asphyxiated by his helmet.
Rescue workers spent 40 minutes stabilizing Hastings before he was airlifted him helicopter to PRMC. Hastings, who was later transferred to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Pa., suffered brain trauma, broken limbs, internal injuries and cuts and bruises.
“He is getting some of his speech back, some of his motor skills,” a police spokesman said. “He still can’t remember the accident itself. I believe he was in a medically induced coma for a while until they could get everything squared away.”
A graduate of Stephen Decatur High, Hastings has a wife, Sherry, an educational assistant at Buckingham Elementary School, and a daughter, Allie.
American Legion Post # 123 on 10111 Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin is staging the fundraiser. Tickets are $20 and include a buffet from 6-8 p.m. and live music by Days Gone By from 8-11 p.m. A cash bar will be provided, and silent and Chinese auctions and raffles will benefit the Hastings family.
Greg White, who organized the event, provided a brief update on Hastings.
“Because of insurance reasons they think they may be moving him out of [Bryn Mawr] in a couple of weeks,” he said. “But he is getting better.”
White said Hastings, a mechanic at Delmarva Power, is a popular presence in the community.
“The community, including Cropper’s Towing, jumped in to support him,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of people call me that saw the poster we made. One guy told me, ‘When I was in trouble and probably would have lost my job because I didn’t have a car, James got me out of a jam so I could still keep my job even though I didn’t have a lot of money.’ He said, ‘I’ll be there next Saturday.’ There’s a lot of people out there like that that he’s helped out.
“We just want to raise as much money for the family as we can,” White continued. “They have had all driving back and forth to Pennsylvania to see him, and when you get hit with medical expenses there’s always a big deductible.”
Businesses that wish to donate to the auction may drop off items at Cropper’s Towing, 10013 Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. Donations by check should be made payable to Harry Hammond, Bank of Ocean City, 627 Williams St., Berlin 21811.
For more information, call Chris Cropper at 443-614-0033, Amanda Cropper at 443-614-0141 or Greg White at 410-641-0023.