William Kruft

Friends and family of a Ventura man severely injured in a March 24 dirt bike accident near California City have planned two fundraisers to ask the community to help the family meet its financial obligations.

William Kruft, 35, was released from St. John's Regional Medical Center's rehabilitation unit on May 17. He had been there since April 9, transferred from the Kern County Medical Center, where he was airlifted after the accident. In the accident, the driveline mechanic nicknamed "Big Willy" suffered head trauma; a shattered left femur and broken left knee; broken right hip, shoulder blade and ribs; and compression fractures on his back, said his wife, Casey.

He was on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma until April Fools' Day when he was weaned off the medication, and he woke up the next day on his wife's 33rd birthday.

Casey Kruft was at his side until Mother's Day, when she finally went home. Relatives and friends had been caring for the couple's three children: Sydney, 9, Shayla, 3, and Samson, 2.

William Kruft is home but undergoing therapy five days a week. He has been on disability since the accident, when he was riding in the desert with three teenage family friends while on a camping trip with several families. Kruft was wearing a helmet, but while attempting a jump, his motorcycle went nose first, and "he went everywhere," Casey Kruft said.

Two fundraisers are planned: a June 3 auction, rummage sale and pancake breakfast at Portola School in Ventura, where Casey Kruft is PTA president; and a June 10 motorcycle rally and poker run that will begin in Ventura and will include a barbecue at a private ranch in Santa Paula.

"It's amazing how everyone has come together to help us," Casey Kruft said Thursday from her Sweet Peas Flowers shop on Johnson Drive in Ventura. "We are so thankful."

While she admits being a bit uncomfortable with all that's being done to help the family, her close friend Shelley Lietzow, who is organizing the June 3 event, said the family is most deserving.

When Lietzow's infant son died five years ago of cancer, the Krufts "were there for me. They are really wonderful, wonderful people," she said.

Donations for the rummage sale are pouring in, as well as gifts for the auction and raffle, said Lietzow. She met Casey and William when they were all in elementary school and skated together at Ventura's Skating Plus.

Items can be dropped off from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday or from noon to 4 p.m. on June 2, in the Portola School cafeteria, 1350 Partridge St., Ventura.

The motorcycle rally and poker run is being organized by Casey's stepfather, Gene Dunn of Ventura. It is open to all interested motorcycle enthusiasts.