The Vermont state trooper who sustained serious injuries when his vehicle collided into the back end of a fire truck near the Bethel exit on Interstate 89 last week remains hospitalized and the next several days “will be critical in determining the outcome of his recovery,” the Vermont Troopers Association said in an announcement of a fundraising campaign to assist the trooper’s family with medical and care costs.

Cpl. Eric Vitali, a 19-year veteran of the Vermont State Police, “suffered life-threatening traumatic injuries and his condition is critical,” the trooper’s association reported late Monday evening.

The VTA said Vitali’s injuries include “traumatic brain, spinal fractures and pelvis fracture. His doctors are indicating that the coming 72 hours” will be all-important in ascertaining the extent of the trooper’s recovery. Vitali was airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon from the scene of the accident on Friday.

A passionate family man and father of two young boys, Vitali is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys camping, hunting, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, jeeping and scuba diving — he is a member of the state police’s Underwater Recovery Team — in addition to teaching and sharing his knowledge of jiu-jitsu with his family.

He also had a hobby in bladesmithing, the troopers association said.

“Eric and his family are going to face enormous medical, personal, and financial challenges as a result of his injuries. ... This has been a life altering event for the entire Vitali family, and they are facing an uncertain future,” the VTA said. “The support they have received so far has been overwhelming and appreciated but that support is going to need to continue well into the future.”

People interested in donating can go to https://helpahero.com/campaign/support.

John Lippman can be reached at jlippman@vnews.com.