After a Krugerville police officer was seriously injured in a crash this week, a fellow police officer is raising money for his recovery and his family.
Krugerville Police Officer William Tinkle was driving home the morning of July 14 when a vehicle pulled out and crashed into him, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
The suspect, 34-year-old Carlos Daniel Torres Elizondo, is charged with “intoxication assault with vehicle causing serious bodily injury” and is on hold for ICE.
The collision gave Tinkle “serious injuries,” and he now “faces a lengthy recovery process.”
Krugerville Police Officer Rachael Jonas launched a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $12,000 for the injured officer and his family.
“Please consider donating to aid Officer Tinkle and his family during this difficult time,” the fundraiser reads. “Officer Tinkle is a valued member of the community and loved by many people.”
The GoFundMe had raised close to $3,700 at the time of publication. The Krugerville Police Department thanked community members for the support and shared the fundraiser on Facebook.
Readers wishing to donate to Tinkle’s recovery can do so here.
Jonas told The Dallas Express she has worked alongside Tinkle on patrol in Krugerville since 2022. He has been a member of the department since 2010, with a primary focus on traffic enforcement.
“He is an extremely valued and cherished member of the Krugerville community and Denton County as a whole,” Jonas told The Dallas Express.
Tinkle “has made a huge impact on our citizens,” according to Jonas. She called the support “overwhelming.”
“I always knew our community has supported us wholeheartedly, but it takes an incident like this to really understand the gravity of the support,” she said. “The KVPD family is grateful for each and every donation, kind word, and act of support we’ve received.”
Tinkle “has always been there for others in need” without expecting “anything in return,” according to Jonas.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “It is so amazing to see people come behind him and support him during this difficult time. He has a very lengthy road to recovery, and your support means the world to us.”