TIGARD, Ore. — Students and staff in the Tigard-Tualatin School District returned to class Monday to learn that one of their beloved custodians was killed in a car crash over the weekend. The victim’s father, who also works for the district, was seriously injured.
The crash happened on Thanksgiving night in Northeast Portland. Andrea Doering, 46, was the passenger in a car that was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver near Northeast Lombard and Northeast 13th Avenue.
Doering had worked at Twality Middle School for the last six years, and was known for going above and beyond.
“She was always in the cafeteria during lunch, helping kids and helping us with fundraisers,” said Liz Martin, president of Twality Middle School PSO (parent support organization).
Alex Pulaski is a spokesperson with the school district. He said Doering's father, Alan Little, works as a custodian with the district at Byrom Elementary School. He was seriously injured in the crash, along with another passenger.
"There were a lot of hugs and tears ... schools are really tight-knit, and when tragedy hits, it’s like ripping a hole in that fabric,” said Pulaski.
Friends of Doering's still can’t believe what happened, and are now praying for her and her father, who remains in the hospital.
Over the weekend, Martin helped start a GoFundMe page for Doering's family to pay for funeral costs, as well as medical expenses for her father. The goal is to raise $100,000 dollars, and as of Monday, they had raised over $7,000.
Portland police have not released the name of the suspected drunk driver. He was also seriously injured in the crash, and remains in the hospital.