Support Joe Gonzales' Recovery After Hit And Run

Hi, our names are Monique and Michael Fair, and we are Joseph Gonzales' children. We created this page to help alleviate some of the financial burden from a horrific accident that our dad and his two senior dogs recently experienced.

On the evening of December 30, 2023, our dad bundled up his two senior dogs, Cupcake and Cutie Pie, for one of their many walks together. They set out from their home to get their exercise, like they did nearly every evening.

Two blocks into their walk, our dad crossed Florida Ave from the North side of Xavier, just as he has done thousands of times since living in his neighborhood. As he neared the curb on the south side of the three-lane wide road, he heard a vehicle approaching quickly.

Always thinking about the care of his dogs, he tried to get himself and his two 12-pound, 10+-year-old dogs safely to the curb. It was at this time they were hit, a mere few feet from the curb, by an unlicensed motorbike, going more than 50-miles-per-hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone. The individual on the bike did not stop to offer aid to our father or his dogs. They took off, leaving our father unconscious on the street.

Thank goodness, those who saw the hit-and-run called 911 immediately allowing Emergency Medical Technicians to arrive on the scene and begin rendering life-saving aid to our dad. He was transported to the hospital with many critical injuries. The driver of this motorbike left our father with multiple internal bleeds that required emergency surgery, numerous broken vertebrae, 12 broken ribs, a broken tibia and fibula on his right leg, ruptured tendons on his left ankle, severely damaged lungs, and severe road rash. In total, our dad required three surgeries to help him stabilize.

Cupcake and Cutie Pie, our dad’s two dogs, died as a result of injuries sustained from the hit-and-run.

Our dad has spent nearly three weeks in the hospital battling his many injuries. Though there were terrifying moments, he continued to fight. Soon, he will be discharged to start the very long rehabilitation journey.

Following his stay at the hospital, our dad will go to a live-in rehabilitation facility to regain the ability to get out of bed, shower, and walk independently. This journey will be long, but he has shown he is willing and capable of fighting.

Between the very lengthy hospital stay, the upcoming lengthy rehabilitation process within the facility, and the need to ensure his home is adapted to his needs when he does one day make it home, we are reaching out to the community to help us reduce the genuine financial burden this unknown driver imparted onto our father and his life.

Our dad is a skilled retired mechanic, compassionate dog lover, tamale enthusiast, and active walker. Now he is fighting to regain the life and independence this hit-and-run nearly stole from him. Out of respect for our father, we will not post pictures from his stay in the hospital, but we will frequently update this page once he makes it to rehab and starts regaining his strength and abilities.

How can you help our dad today?

Make a donation: We hope to reach $8,000 for our dad’s recovery.

Donations will be used to cover:

• Medical bills from his 3-week hospital stay and multiple-week stay in the rehabilitation center.

• Any updates needed to his home (ramps, rails, etc…) to support his pathway back to independent living.

• Ongoing medical support following the three surgeries and many new medications he will need to maintain because of injuries from the hit-and-run.

Share this campaign! The person who hit our father and his two dogs is still out there! Sharing this page will not only help raise funds to support my dad’s recovery, but it can also help us find the person who is responsible for this horrible crime and ensure justice for our dad, Cupcake, and Cutie Pie.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this. Hold your people tight! Tell them you love them and be grateful for each moment you get with them.

With gratitude,

Michael and Monique Fair

Any tips related to this crime can be reported to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 9.1.3-7.8.6.7. You can remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. The tip line is open 24/7.