Donations for a pizza deliveryman who was beaten and carjacked in south Evanston were approaching $15,000 this afternoon, as people from around the country and overseas learned of his plight and neighbors' efforts to help him.
Omar Gutiérrez has been struggling to keep up with hundreds of e-mails and donations pouring in from as far away as South Korea for Stephen Walker. Gutiérrez, 31, witnessed the attack on Walker last week and started collecting money from neighbors to replace Walker's 2003 Kia, which was totaled during the incident.
As of this afternoon more than $14,879.90 has been collected, Gutiérrez said. The Tribune reported Monday that he had started a Web site explaining Walker, 47, had minimal insurance on his car and did not expect his employer would replace it.
Now, in addition to the donations, an insurance company plans to offer Walker free comprehensive coverage for his next car, Gutiérrez said. He added that Walker's employer, Papa John's, is supplying pizza and drinks at a gathering tonight where the donated money will be presented to the deliveryman.
"People are dropping checks at the police station," Gutiérrez said.
. Horrible groan of a thread title though lee
