By Kelly Ragan
Greeley Tribune
GREELEY, Colo. — Darin Dalton spent the past 20 years helping people in their darkest hour. He spent years working for fire departments around Weld County. He worked his way to serving as a medic division chief with North Colorado Medical Center. His wife, Kristi, is an autism specialist for Greeley-Evans School District 6, who has touched the lives of families across the community.
Now friends and family are rallying to help the Eaton family when they need it most.
Darin, Kristi and their two children had just left for vacation the day after Christmas when a sewage tanker hit their truck after an SUV ran a stop sign and crashed into the tanker near Weld County roads 74 and 31. Darin and his two children were treated and released from North Colorado Medical Center. Kristi remains in the hospital in serious condition.
Ty Anderson, a paramedic at North Colorado Medical Center and friend of Darin’s, organized a GoFundMe page for the family Wednesday, which has already raised more than $20,000. A Meal Train page has meals covered for the family through Jan. 25.
“To many of us they are family, friends, neighbors, community providers and, most of all, part of our EMS family,” Anderson wrote. “We have started this Go Fund Me page to help with extra costs of having family present and any unforeseen expenses that have yet to arise.”
According to the GoFundMe page, Kristi has already undergone some surgeries, with more to come.
Shawna Street, a longtime friend of the Daltons, said they’re a family that’s made a big impact on the community. The hospital has been buzzing with visitors since the crash Tuesday.
“We would just like to say thank you to everyone who has stepped forward to support the Dalton family,” Street said. “They feel well loved and cared for.”
Capt. Adam Ferrell with the Ault-Pierce Fire Department said he met Darin about 15 years ago when Ferrell first started at the department.
“He and his wife are the nicest, most giving people,” Ferrell said.
In a statement, Darin said he and his family are thankful for the tremendous support they’ve received from the community.
To allow the family and Kristi time to focus on their health, they will limit visitation at the hospital, Darin said in the statement. They also ask for privacy at this time.
Copyright 2017 Greeley Tribune