Friends, family and strangers touched by the tragic loss of Meridan Plains truckie Matthew Stockman, 39, earlier this month are digging deep to help his fiance Leah Wall and her young daughter.
At the time of writing, more than $16,000 has been raised from 147 donors to a GoFundMe page set up by Wall’s friend Ronnie Hartshorne.
Stockman had been on his regular run along the Bruce Highway on December 14 when his truck left the road and crashed into a ditch at East End, south of Mt Larcom, near Gladstone.
In the days since his tragic death, it has emerged that Stockman was expecting his first child in 2023 and only recently proposed to Wall.
Wall told The Sunshine Coast Daily that Stockman was the “missing puzzle piece” to her and her daughter Leah’s life.
“It was complete,” she said.
“He just fit so well with mine and Leah’s life, he was a grumpy old soul but all we ever wanted was a love story like most, getting married, babies.”
Wall said Stockman loved his job as a truckie and took pride in the things that he did and was loved among his friends, even though he was a bit shy.
Hartshorne revealed that it was the second heartbreak for Wall, having lost her former partner and Leah’s father in another motor vehicle accident in 2013 while she was 27 weeks pregnant.
“As a single mum, Jenna was a strong independent woman and despite the apparent struggles of single parenting, she created a home for Leah to thrive in,” Hartshorne writes on GoFundMe.
“In 2019 Jenna met Matt, a strong grounded man with a huge heart. After dating for two years in December 2021 Matt proposed, fulfilling Jenna’s hopes and dreams for her future with the love of her life and a husband and father for Leah.
“Matt longed for a child of his own and after trying and undergoing fertility treatment Jenna surprised Matt with the longed-for news that they were going to have a baby. Jenna, Matt, and Leah were so happy and excited! Matt worked as a long haul truck driver, but now with the baby on the way he decided to stop long haul driving and took a driving job for a local family-owned business.”
Hartshorne said Wall is completely devastated and overwhelmed with grief.
“Jenna now has the prospect of being a single mother to Leah and her baby boy without the love of her life by her side. With the emotional grief, there is also the financial burden of now being in a single-income home with no financial backup and a baby due in March 2023.
“Jenna has a tough road ahead emotionally and financially and any donations will go towards the funeral and setting up a stable home for Jenna, Leah, and the baby. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give to Jenna and her 2 beautiful children.”
Stockman’s funeral will be held at Gregson and Weight, Buderim, 159 Wises Road, at 3pm on Friday, January 13.
[signup]
The post Fundraiser launched for family of Sunshine Coast truckie killed in Gladstone crash appeared first on Big Rigs.