POCATELLO — An online fundraiser has been started for a local man seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle.

The life-changing accident transpired around 6:45 p.m. on June 18 when Pocatello resident Ron Newton was struck from behind by a motor vehicle as he was traversing the area of Siphon Road on his road bicycle.

The incident left Newton with traumatic injuries that included a large head wound and an arterial brain bleed, a collapsed lung, a critical leg injury, multiple broken ribs and a significant elbow dislocation.

According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Newton was initially airlifted to Portneuf Medical Center where he has spent time recovering in its intensive care unit. Newton is expected to live, but his road to recovery will be long, difficult and expensive. The family decided to transfer him to the University of Utah for specialized treatment.

An update provided by Newton’s daughter Shayna Harding on the family’s fundraiser page says the most concerning injury now is his right leg, with the wound from his fracture being too large to heal on its own and the exposed bone requiring covering to prevent infection and possible amputation. Newton will need rotational flap surgery, which involves taking muscle from another part of his body to cover the exposed bone and close the wound. Surgeons will then work to repair the leg fracture.

“This is a very complex surgery with serious risks, including infection and potential failure of the tissue graft,” Harding said on the GoFundMe page. “If the tissue doesn’t survive, he may lose his lower leg. Even if the surgery is successful, we don’t yet know what his mobility will look like afterward. He will need multiple surgeries and a long recovery — possibly over a year or longer.”

Harding says that Newton is the sole provider for the family, which includes his wife and three children who still reside at home. Tremendous financial strain will be put on the family in the coming months while Newton recovers and is unable to work. The accident is also taking a huge toll on Newton physically and emotionally.

Harding told the Idaho State Journal during a recent phone interview that Newton’s greatest concern is whether he will be able to hike and enjoy the outdoors after the surgeries. In addition to biking, Newton is an avid hunter and enjoys hiking and other outdoor recreational activities.

“Besides working long hours, he’s just always serving people in the community and helping them out and not charging for work that he’s done,” Harding said. “He’s just a hard-working person, and that’s why it’s just so sad that this happened to him.”

The funds raised will help cover the emergency medical care and surgeries along with helping cover the monetary costs of the rehabilitation, physical therapy, travel expenditures, household bills, groceries, daily living expenses and any long-term medical support.

“Our dad is one of the strongest people we know,” Harding said. “He’s resilient, determined, and doing everything he can to fight through this. But he can’t do it alone. He is always serving and helping others no matter what the circumstances.”

Harding continued, “That’s why this GoFundMe is so important. It allows us to focus on his recovery and saving his leg without the crushing weight of financial stress. Any donation — big or small — means the world to us. Your support has already been overwhelming, and we are deeply, deeply grateful. We’ll continue to share updates here as we know more. Please keep Ron in your prayers as he prepares for the next round of surgeries. Thank you for standing with our family during the hardest time of our lives.”

As of Thursday afternoon, 105 people have donated over $15,000 to Newton’s GoFundMe campaign, which has a $22,000 goal.

To donate to the Newton family, visit gofund.me/2e704533.