Friends, Family Remember Single Father Killed In I-40 Crash, Raise Money For His Teen Daughter

Family and friends are mourning the loss of 49-year-old Joseph Wilson after he was killed in a car crash last Tuesday.

Wilson was driving on Interstate 40 near Meridian when he changed lanes and collided with a truck. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

News 9’s Ashley’s Holden spoke with his co-workers who are trying to help support the single dad's 17-year-old daughter.

"He was big ball of sunshine, a gentle giant," said Wilson's co-worker Brandon Jarolim.

That's how Wilson's co-workers at T&T Industrial remember their friend. He joined their "family" about five months ago.

"He was here heading up the shop and yard maintenance, as well as being parts and tool room manager," said Jarolim.

Known lovingly as Shrek around the shop, his friends remember him dancing and singing before leaving work just before the accident.

"He left here about 4:30 and got in the accident just a couple miles down the road," said Jarolim. 

His friends and co-workers didn't find out about Wilson's death until the next morning.

"It hit everyone around here pretty hard," said Jarolim.

Wilson was from Moore and a single dad to his 17-year-old daughter Adora.

Monday, she sent News 9 videos and pictures of her dad. She said it breaks her heart how this happened and described her dad as her best friend.

"We knew Joey loved his daughter to the fullest, and wanted to help as much as we could," said Jarolim.

So, Wilson's co-workers started a GoFundMe.

"Losing your dad has no monetary value, but there's a lot of financial issues and we didn't want her to have to deal with all that through tough times," said Jarolim.

Their said Wilson was loved, and he would have done the same for anyone.

"I would say any little bit helps," said Jarolim.

The GoFundMe account can be found here.