A Concord father of seven was buried Tuesday after he was killed in a collision with a driver traveling the wrong way on Highway 101 in San Francisco early Sunday morning.
Waheed Etimad, 40, worked as a translator for the US Army in Afghanistan before immigrating to the US. As the sole breadwinner in his large family, he drove for Uber while going to school full-time.
Aminah Abdullah of Dublin coordinates charity work for the Muslim Community Center East Bay in Pleasanton, which hosted the funeral service and launched a toy and clothing drive for his children.
“We just wanted the kids to come here after the funeral and receive some gifts. Of course nothing can replace their loss, but just something to try to make them feel a little bit better," Abdullah said.
The community has rallied around the family. Groceries, hot meals, gift cards and money to pay the family's utility bills have been donated, said Abdullah.
A GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $200,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
“The father was an Uber driver, but with a family of seven children, plus a wife, that’s not a very decent income in the Bay Area. I’m sure they were already struggling financially before his passing. So we’re very thankful for everyone who’s donated," said Abdullah.
While there’s been a generous outpouring of support, the family has an urgent need right now that will not be met by the fundraiser, Abdullah said.
The Muslim Community Center has also taken care of the funeral costs.
"In the Islamic faith, typically when someone passes away, we do our best to bury them within a day or two. And we knew that the GoFundMe would not come in time so we decided to cover the burial expenses for the family," said Abdullah.
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating how the driver of the other car wound up going the wrong way on Highway 101 near Cesar Chavez. She died in the head-on crash too, which injured nine people.