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GoFundMe started for family of Maine officer killed in tragic crash
As of Wednesday morning, more than $36,000 has been raised for the officer's family.
Community members have raised thousands of dollars to support the family of a Maine police sergeant who died in a car crash last week.
Biddeford police Sergeant Jacob Wolterbeek of Portsmouth, New Hampshire died Thursday in a car crash on the Piscataqua Bridge while he was on his way home at the end of his shift, Biddeford police said.
At 1:14 a.m., state troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash southbound on the Maine Turnpike, according to Maine State Police. An initial investigation indicates that a box truck was stopped in traffic on the Maine side of the bridge when Wolterbeek’s Toyota Camry crashed into the truck’s rear.
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Wolterbeek, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the crash remains under investigation.
“In this time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Wolterbeek’s family, friends, and colleagues,” said Biddeford Chief of Police JoAnne W. Fisk in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences and offer our full support to them during this difficult time.”
A GoFundMe, which has raised more than $36,000 as of Wednesday morning, was created to “help provide support for Jacob’s family as they navigate the difficult days ahead.”
The Trooper Black Foundation will also donate 100% of all proceeds they receive during the month of December to the Wolterbeek family.
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“The outpouring of love and support in the wake of Jacob’s passing has been nothing short of incredible,” the GoFundMe page reads. “It’s a testament to the kind of person he was—a man whose heart was as vast as his smile, whose laughter was infectious, and whose presence brought light to every room.”
Wolterbeek, an 18-year veteran of the Biddeford Police Department, is survived by his wife and three children.
“Jacob loved his entire family with his whole heart,” Wolterbeek’s obituary reads. “His family was his rock, and he cherished every moment with them.”
Following Wolterbeek’s passing, there has been an outpouring of support from local schools, businesses, and police departments.
“In times of sorrow, words often fall short of capturing the depth of our emotions,” the Kennebunkport Police Department wrote of Wolterbeek, who served as a Community Service Officer in Kennebunkport before working at Biddeford. “Jacob’s commitment to the values we hold dear was unmatched, and his memory will live on.”
A walk-thru for police officers and other public safety personnel will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, and public visiting hours will follow at 5 p.m. in the funeral home. A Christian burial mass will begin Thursday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church. It will be livestreamed.
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