OGDEN (KSNT) — The Ogden Community Center is hosting a fundraiser for Cody Benyshek, 30, who was seriously injured after a hit and run earlier this month.
According to Ogden Community Center coordinator Kim Romanski, the fundraising is based entirely on donations. The center will hold a sweepstakes for select Kansas City Chiefs merchandise and a spaghetti dinner. All proceeds will go to Benyshek and his family.
The fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, February 28 from 5-8pm at the Ogden Community Center. Raffle tickets will cost $2 per ticket or $10 for six tickets. People will be served spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, a dessert and a drink, according to Romanski.
“The community has come together,” Romanski said. “We have received several donations of snacks, food and cash donations. All the locals pooled their money to buy supplies to make spaghetti dinner.
The hit and run occurred on Feb. 11 at around 9:30 p.m. in the 4700 block of Skyway Drive near the Manhattan Regional Airport, according to the Riley County Police Department. Officers said Benyshek was found by the side of the road with injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle.
“He said whoever hit him and hit him ‘left him to die,'” said Teresa Ebel, Benyshek’s mother.
According to Ebel, Benyshek is a special needs individual who, after his driving privileges were revoked by the state of Kansas, started walking everywhere. He allegedly walked from Ogden, down K-19 to Manhattan to visit a friend, Ebel said.
“He met someone at the airport. An employee and spent some time talking to him and stuff, I guess he was hanging out at the airport,” Ebel said.
“We didn’t even know Cody’s name,” Romanski said. “But we knew who he was because he walked everywhere. Everyone from Manhattan Municipal Airport to, everyone attended.
According to Ebel, Benyshek was first transported to Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg and was later airlifted to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with multiple injuries. He tells 27 News Benyshek is currently recovering in the Stormont Vail intensive care unit and is stable.
“They [police] let me know he was conscious and talking,” Ebel said. “And when I got to the hospital, they also let me know that sometimes they are people from Life-Flight in Stormont Vail. a ventilator. They were preparing to fly him for life at Stormont Vail. The only time he’s been conscious is since they found him and since they’ve talked to me.”
According to Ebel, Benyshek suffered a broken neck and spine. He has broken ribs and bones in his foot and possibly his ankles. His kidney, liver and spleen were damaged. He had at least 26 stitches over his right eye and staples on his skull. A piece of bone inside his knee was shattered. An external metal rod was used to support the bones in his right knee until doctors could perform surgery. His pelvis was fractured and about 5-6 screws have been used since the accident to fix the pelvis.
During her hospitalization, doctors found blood clots in both legs and groin area. Doctors conducted an external procedure to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs and heart, Ebel said.
“They took away his ventilator,” Ebel said. “Then they had to put it back on and then take it off. They took it off not yesterday [Tuesday] but the day before, around 4. He had a hard time.
Ebel said the damage to her organs was fixed by doctors, but she is still struggling with mucus in her lungs, as doctors are concerned about the possibility of contracting pneumonia.
If you are aware of the accident, saw anything suspicious that could connect a vehicle or person to the accident, or have any suggestions, call RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777 .
