Donations, Community Support Flow for Islington Pizza Employee Injured in Car Accident

On Friday, March 25, 2022, Ms. Maria Tassiopoulos, owner of Islington Pizza, announced that the GoFundMe fundraiser that she began earlier this month for her employee, Mr. Kevin Torres, has exceeded $11,000. Just the evening prior, the fundraiser had surpassed its $10,000 goal by a few hundred dollars.

Mr. Torres is a 23 year-old from West Roxbury who was struck by a car on Washington Street in Islington earlier this month. He was crossing from the Roche Bros. side of the street to the opposite side of the street when he was struck by a 2002 Kia driven by a Westwood woman. After interviewing several witnesses, Westwood Police have declined to issue any citation to the driver.

Ms. Tassiopoulos reports that Mr. Torres wishes to thank all who have supported him during this time. She said, "[M]y customers have been amazing! People are coming in and donating cash and gift cards to Roche Bros. supermarket. Everyone's been asking about him. He wanted me to tell you he says thank you to everyone!"

The funds raised will help Mr. Torres pay for rent, groceries and medical expenses while he is unable to return to work. His wife is also out of work and they share a 2 year-old son.  

Mr. Torres is expected to recover at home for another three to four weeks while he heals from a swollen pelvis, which luckily did not require surgery.  He also has some short-term memory loss, which is hoped to be temporary.