Public praised for donations to accident survivor

The convenience store in Austin Square was the last place Dillon and Riley McManus visited before they were struck by a car and suffered injuries that killed Dillon and left twin brother Riley with extensive injuries to his hip and pelvis.Now other visitors to the store have helped donate more than $500 for Riley McManus’ rehabilitation, according to a longtime neighborhood resident.”I want to thank everybody who went into the store and put money into the jug, I really appreciated that they did that,” Boston Street resident Carole Robbins said. “There are still good people out there who still have a good heart.”Riley and Dillon were struck while crossing Boston Street in Lynn on Sept. 18. Dillon died of his injuries, and police are continuing to investigate the incident.Robbins said she presented Gerry McManus, the twins’ father and a friend of Robbins’, this week with two checks totaling $563. She said the money will go toward helping Riley’s recovery.Gerry McManus said Wednesday the family was very grateful.”Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and your generosity during this tragic time for our two sons Riley and Dillon,” Gerry McManus and his wife Colleen wrote in a flyer they are distributing to friends. “Thank you again for putting your arms around us and supporting us,”A post on the Caringbridge website for the twins reported Riley was doing well in physical therapy and had been nicknamed “Nascar” for his wheelchair-driving skills. The post said Riley’s doctors hoped he could return home by late October.Gerry McManus said Wednesday that he and his wife have lately been focusing on Riley’s second hip operation, which occurred Tuesday and doctors hoped would ease some of the 20-year-old man’s pain.But Gerry McManus said Riley has a significant and possibly painful recovery ahead. In addition to the physical pain, Gerry McManus said Riley also has to deal with the emotional pain of losing his twin brother and best friend.Gerry McManus said the family would probably hold a memorial service for Dillon in the future but they are focusing now on Riley’s return home.Robbins, who said she had lived near the square for nearly 50 years, was inspired to help after organizing a similar effort approximately 25 years ago when another neighbor was killed in a car accident in the square.She said she figured the store would be a good place to put a donation jar this time because it was a regular stop for local residents.Robbins also said she had figured the donations could not only allow neighbors to express their condolences but also financially help Riley’s recovery.”I felt the family needed it more than giving flowers,” Robbins said.How To Help To whose who would still like to donate, a Riley McManus Family Aid fund is available at Eastern Bank.Checks payable to the fund can be mailed to Eastern Bank care of Riley McManus Family Aid Fund,156 Boston St., Lynn, MA 01904.
Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].