A Milwaukee man said he is counting his blessings rather than feeling sorry for himself. His dream of serving his renowned gumbo to the masses was abruptly halted after a devastating accident. A terrifying crash left Andre Richards, the owner of Gumbo Valley food truck, without a business
The Milwaukee Police Department said that the wreck was caused when a 28-year-old woman plowed into Richards’ parked food truck. Miraculously, no injuries were reported, but the driver was apprehended on suspicion of driving under the influence, prompting further investigation by authorities.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Richards shared his experience. “I just remember getting flung, you know, to the front, and everything went black. I tried to make it to my feet, tried to crawl out… it just seemed unreal at the time,” Richards recalled. The food truck served as more than just a mobile kitchen; it was the key to Richards plans for the future.
Andre Richards cries while talking about the crash that left his food truck destroyed. Photo from CBS 58 video
Carolyn Simmons, Richards’ mother, was on the phone with her son when the incident happened. “Oh mom, they just hit me and I’m trapped in this truck,'” she recalled her son saying. “We lost everything, that’s five years’ worth of work gone because someone wanted to speed,” Simmons said.
The crash not only inflicted physical damage but also shattered years of dedication and hard work. Richards said he had poured his heart and soul into building his business from scratch, devoting countless hours to crafting the perfect recipes and cultivating a loyal customer base. Despite the setback, Richards refuses to harbor resentment towards the driver responsible for the collision.
I’m alive, she’s alive,” he said. “It’s [an] unfortunate situation. I don’t wish bad, nothing on nobody.”
In the wake of the tragedy, an outpouring of support from the community has buoyed Richards’ spirits. A GoFundMe campaign launched to raise $10,000 to assist him in rebuilding his business has surpassed all expectations. It is now at nearly $50,000 and still growing. Overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers, Richards expressed gratitude for the opportunity to see his dream realized once more.
Andre Richards’ food truck is lifted onto a flatbed truck. Photo by CBS 58 video
“I’m just happy to see that we can all come together to finish out a dream that I started,” Richards shared, his voice choked with emotion. “I never knew that people would believe in my dream like I do… it makes me feel good, proud.”
Gumbo Valley also posted on Facebook, telling supporters that “when life gives us lemons we make southern lemonade.”
“Going through that situation and you’re working every day, you ain’t expecting that kind of money in 24 hours,” Richards said. Thanks to the community, his dream will come true. “Gumbo Valley will be up and running,” he said. Watch below for more information on the crash and to hear from Richards.
