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Motorcycle Gangs Come Out For Benefit For Hit-And-Run Victim

Nearly 300 bikers come out to help raise money for 14-year-old Jake Vantrieste.

 

Nearly 300 motorcycle gang and club members came to Havertown Saturday afternoon to help raise funds for 14-year-old Jake Vantrieste, a victim of a hit-and-run accident.

Last month, the Haverford High School freshman was out with his friends when he attempted to cross the intersection of Township Line Road and Bryan Street while on his skateboard and wearing headphones when, according to authorities, the now former prosecutor with the Delaware County District Attorney's Office Michael Donohue allegedly struck Vantrieste with his SUV and drove off.

A week later the accident, authorities charged 31-year-old Donohue, of Havertown, with aggravated assault, simple assault, leaving the scene of an accident and other related charges and claimed that he allegedly hid his SUV in another residence in Roxborough.

The Haverford-Havertown Patch asked the young Vantrieste what he would say to Donohue if he was at the fundraiser.

"Why wouldn't you stop? You would know better. You know the law," was Jake Vantrieste's reply.

During what was supposed to be his preliminary hearing this past Monday, until a judge granted the deputy attorney general’s request for a continuance, Donohue would not speak to the media about his alleged involvement.

While some family members of Vantrieste and the bikers said they would like to see Donohue face justice, his father Kevin Vantrieste said that Saturday was a day for his son.

"I just want to keep the spotlight on Jake," the union electrician from Local 98 said clad in his leather jacket.

But Kevin Vantrieste did add that he wanted to know if there would be any charges filed against anyone who may have allegedly helped Donohue hide his SUV.

Along with his wife Dawn Vantrieste, they rode from Christine's Steakhouse in Philadelphia down the Blue Route and then onto West Chester Pike to the front of their house on St. Denis Lane with Pagans, Warlocks, Thunder guards, Bookers, 2nd Brigade, Vietnam Vets, Centurions' and other various motorcycle clubs.

As a few flurries started to fall, Dawn Vantrieste told the press that her friend came up with the idea of having the fundraiser, called "The Jake Run," to help raise funds for his medical expenses and also for the Special Olympics.

While she has not received a hospital bill yet, the therapeutic nurse did say her son's ambulance ride to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on the night of the accident was about $2,000.

Dawn Vantrieste said that her son's fractured hips have healed and that he had bleeding on the brain. In addition, she says that he suffers at least three migraine headaches a week, has short-term memory loss and his head is "fuzzy," resulting in him forgetting how to spell simple words.

"This little guy didn't deserve that," said Pagan member Dan Biggin, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, which was underneath his riding jacket.

Biggin and other motorcyclists said they came out to help support the family and raise funds.

Dawn Vantrieste describes her son as an active typical teenager, who enjoys skateboarding, BMX bikes and motocross, but he cannot do those activities or even go back to school until CHOP clears him.

She said that he attempted to return back to school for a day three weeks ago, but it was too much for him and he was back at home by 10 a.m.

"He's been taking it one day at a time right now," she said.

But Jake Vantrieste only wants one thing, he said.

"I want to hang out with my friends," he said with a smile. "I feel a lot better than I did. Except for my head."

The teenager said he was happy with the day's turnout.

"I think it's great because it's for a great cause for me and the Special Olympics," he said.

Kevin Vantrieste gave the media flyers, which can be seen beneath the pictures, that provides donation information.

Donations can be sent to: The Jake Fund at any TD Bank and/or the Special Olympics at 307 Lenox Rd., Havertown.

Related Topics: Michael Donohue

Laura

10:35 am on Sunday, December 18, 2011

Great job, guys and gals. Motorcyclists as a whole are a pretty caring, giving group of guys and gals. Why, tho, would you call them GANGS? Promoting the old stereotype of motorcyclists.... Nowadays the person you're riding next to is probably a bank president or other professional.

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JA Logan

10:57 am on Sunday, December 18, 2011

You should print a retraction to the "gang" misnomer. Some of these clubs are law enforcement/civil servant clubs (Centurions), as well as military veteran clubs (2nd Brigade and Vietnam Vets). The fact that they did this for Jake shows that none of them are demonstrating "gang" mentality.

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Michael Robinson

4:38 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2011

Oh, that's funny. The "Blue Gang" and US military veterans in the ATF, FBI, US Marshals Service and various police SWATs have a much higher body count of innocent civilians than the 1%ers. They're just trying to put on a good face for the public.

Remember Jose Guerena, remember Waco.
.

Ron Bainbridge

11:43 am on Sunday, December 18, 2011

Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club... a GANG?
Warriors Watch... a GANG?
American Legion Riders... a GANG?
I could go on but why? Get real people!!!

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Laura Herr

1:14 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2011

Pagans: GANG. Warlocks: GANG. Look, it's obvious that the author used "gang" and "club" interchangeably in this article (and depending on the group, not exactly accurately). Give it a rest, will ya? If this is what you're focussing on, you're missing the point of the article entirely. If you are a rider, and are in one of these groups or familiar with them, then you know whether it's a club or a gang. Stop being such prissy Nancies with the semantics, will you please? Not important in the context of this story. No need to shift the focus here..... Keep your eyes and mind on the young man please!

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Michael Robinson

4:40 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2011

It would be important if it was your club being slandered.

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JA Logan

5:31 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2011

I am Chaplain of American Legion Riders PA Post 834. I as well as other members take offense to veternans clubs being referred to as gangs. As stated by the author, the majority of the participants were not in 1% clubs, most were in veteran or LE MC's (Law Enforcement clubs) , I know the LE clubs take offense being labeled as a gang. Since the majority were not 1 % clubs, the term clubs should have been used. Laura, you say that its semantics, I say its more on the border of being a libelous statement.

Yes they are there for a great reason, I will not detract from that, but when you use the word gang, it denotes criminal, most of theses groups are not, and majority rule should be used.

Donna Lowry

11:58 am on Monday, December 19, 2011

I think this is supposed to be about Jake, not the semantics of a word. Its not about motorcycle gangs or clubs - its about the kid!

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Laura Herr

7:15 pm on Monday, December 19, 2011

Thank you Donna! Chaplain and Michael, I understand what you are saying, and I even agree with you. I happen to ride a motorcycle myself, though I don't belong to either a club or a gang. One person already pointed out that the author should have been more accurate in their use of club vs gang in the article. That's enough, really. Now, how about sharing how you feel about Jake Vantrieste's situation, or how mad you are at Michael Donohue for committing a hit and run - especially considering how many of them he or his former office must have prosecuted? Why is every poster except Donna and I more concerned that they may be incorrectly labeled rather than focusing on the POINT?

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