Lake County Gazette

Fundraisers have been set up to support Vasilije “Vasko” Stankovic, 56, and his family after he was robbed and beaten while on an Uber run. 

“My dear friend and colleague Vasko Stankovic was brutally attacked, beaten and robbed by four men when he picked them up while driving for Uber,” Joe Kirin wrote on the GoFundMe page for Stankovic. “He sustained multiple injuries and is unable to work while he is recuperating. I would like to ask all of you to help Vasko, Ivana and their seven children during this time. They now have numerous new expenses in addition to the current and they could use our help to get them through this time.” 

To date, Kirin’s fundraiser has raised more than $14,000 for Stankovic.

According to CBS News, Stankovic was carjacked and assaulted by four passengers who ordered a ride late at night, leaving him with multiple facial injuries and an uncertain prognosis for a possible brain hemorrhage. Stankovic, relied on his job as an Uber driver to support his wife and seven children. When not at work, he pursued his passion for music.

Another fundraiser set up by Christopher Kosovich has raised just over $3,500 for Stankovic. “He will continue to be under medical supervision for the near future due to ongoing health concerns relating to this attack,” Kosovich wrote on GoFundMe.

Lake County State’s Attorney candidate Mary Cole noted the incident in an Aug. 26 post on her Facebook page. “I am heartbroken after hearing the story of Vasilije Stankovic, and I pray for his speedy recovery. People in Lake County should never fear for their safety just by going to work. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for hundreds of workers in Lake and Cook counties because of the soft on crime stances by their county state's attorneys.”