Fundraiser launched for family of 'beautiful' US mom killed on 'special trip' to Ireland
Allison Eichner died after she was struck by a vehicle outside her hotel in Antrim
A fundraiser has been launched to raise money following the death of a US mom who was killed while on a special trip to Ireland.
Allison Eichner from Connecticut died in a road crash in Bushmills, Co Antrim, last Wednesday, June 11th.
Three of her friends created the GoFundMe page to help her husband, Dan and her two sons following their 'sudden and heartbreaking loss.'
'Allison was truly a beautiful person — inside and out — with a kindness and generosity that radiated through everything she did,' the fundraiser reads.
Allison Eichner
News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
'She had a gift for making everyone around her feel seen, loved, and truly cared for.'
'Allison was a devoted wife to Dan and an amazing mom to their two beautiful boys, Sean and Joey.
'Her love for her family was limitless, and her greatest joy was being their rock, their safe place, and their biggest cheerleader,' the post continued.
'To those who knew her well, Allison's quiet sense of humor often caught you off guard — sweet on the surface, with an unexpectedly sharp and hilarious wit, and a wonderfully dirty sense of humor that always made you laugh when you least expected it.
Her friends said that she 'gave endlessly' asking for nothing in return.
'Whether it was her time, her love, or just a listening ear over a cup of tea (with gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, of course), Allison was always there.'
Her friends said that Allison was on a long-awaited special trip to Ireland to 'explore her heritage.'
'What was meant to be a time of joy and exploration ended far too soon in an unimaginable tragedy.'
'As we process this devastating loss, many have asked how they can help,' they continued.
'This GoFundMe has been created to support Dan, Sean, and Joey — to help with funeral expenses, immediate needs, and to provide some peace of mind as they begin to find their way forward.'
They also asked mourners to keep Allison's family in their thoughts and prayers.
So far more than $70,000 has been raised by 562 donors.
Following the one-vehicle collision, Allison, a pedestrian, was rushed to hospital where she died from her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle Cathy Stewart (66) appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Friday, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The court heard that the special needs teacher from Benton, Illinois lost control of an electric Ford Transit vehicle as she parked it outside a hotel.
'The defendant collided with the pedestrian while she sat on a bench at the front of the property,' a police constable told the hearing.
Stewart was granted bail with several conditions and a £5,000 cash surety. The case is unlikely to be heard until 2026.
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