The family of a Red Deer man who died while trying to stop thieves from stealing his vehicle is hosting a blood drive in his name.
Dawson Wegner Cramer, who also went by “D.J.,” died at age 23 on March 16, 2016.
Alexander Michael Talbot, 25 at the time, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
Talbot targeted Wegner Cramer’s truck, which was parked behind his Normandeau home. He hot-wired it, and when the truck started up, Wegner Cramer, wearing only boots and boxer shorts and carrying a machete, rushed out to investigate.
Wegner Cramer banged on the vehicle to get Talbot’s attention. In response, Talbot put the truck into gear and drove off, trapping Wegner Cramer between the truck and a Ford Explorer parked next to it.
A neighbour found a badly injured Wegner Cramer at about 5 a.m. He was taken to hospital, but died at about 6:30 a.m.
His mother Lynn said her son was at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and needed about 27 units of blood before he died.
“They tried everything. They tried absolutely everything,” she said.
She said the family would like to give back to the community what was given to her son at a time of need: blood.
Throughout March, central Albertans will be able to donate blood at Canadian Blood Services in Red Deer on 68th Street in Wegner Cramer’s name.
Saturday, at the Black Knight Inn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the family is hosting an event where people can win prizes. There will be a silent auction, raffles and door prizes.
“I’ve got probably close to $6,000 worth of prizes,” the mother said.
The family is accepting both blood and monetary donations.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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