First Posted: 1/15/2009

LUMBERTON - The condition of a Lumberton police officer who was struck by a vehicle last week while investigating a motorcycle accident has worsened.
Officer William Reed was in critical condition on Friday at UNC Hospitals, according to a spokesman there. Police Detective Burnis Wilkins said doctors told him that Reed, 29, has developed pneumonia and was placed on a respirator to help him breathe.
Reed's condition originally had been called good and then it was downgraded to serious.
Reed was investigating a motorcycle accident on May 15 when he was struck and suffered severe injuries to both his legs. The driver of motorcycle, Eric Andrew Meyers, 37, of Delaware, died Sunday at UNC Medical Center from injuries he suffered in the accident.
Reed was struck by a car while collecting debris from the accident. State troopers cited a 75-year-old Florida man whose vehicle struck Reed for failing to reduce his speed.
Fliers have been distributed across the area as part of a fund-raising campaign to raise money to help pay for the officer's expenses - medical and living - as he is expected to be out of work for a long recovery period.
The Police Department is selling raffle tickets for $5 each and three for $10 for a June 11 drawing. The prize is a shotgun that was donated anonymously.
Wilkins said a woman recently bought 100 tickets for the raffle.
Lumberton police officers sold bottled water at the Mid-Atlantic Fly-in and the Red Baron pizza vendor also donated all of his proceeds from the event to the cause. Wal-Mart and Red Baron donated the water for police to sell at the airshow.
&#8220There has been overwhelming support, but we are still in an aggressive campaign seeking funds for his medical expenses,” Wilkins said.
Anyone who like to make a donation or buy a raffle ticket can call Detective Burnis Wilkins at 827-5778.