A beloved Kentucky man, recognized for waving at passing vehicles from his wheelchair, is preventing for his life after being struck by an alleged drunk driver — almost 30 years after an identical crash left him disabled.
Brad Fritz, affectionately often known as the “Wheelchair Waver,” was hospitalized Tuesday night time with life-threatening accidents after he was hit by a pickup truck on the similar Edgewood intersection the place he usually sits and cheerfully gestures to vacationers on the highway, in response to native experiences.
The 41-year-old’s household mentioned he suffered an “intensive checklist of accidents,” together with a number of cranium fractures, a collapsed lung, a fractured pelvis, quite a few damaged ribs and a damaged arm that surgeons wanted to rebuild with rods, plates and screws.
“It’s intestine wrenching to look at somebody undergo like this,” his father, Mickey Fritz, wrote on Fb, noting that his resilient son additionally sustained a number of lacerations and bruises to his face and physique.
“Essentially the most disheartening a part of the day was his frustration. It’s powerful to reexplain to somebody over and over a traumatic occasion they’ve suffered. The feelings are flowing.”
Brad, additionally recognized in the neighborhood as “Champ,” was initially intubated and sedated earlier than medical doctors eliminated his respiratory tube Thursday. His father is now involved along with his short-term reminiscence, noting that his son has “no recollection” of what occurred to him however is overjoyed by the group’s assist.
Fritz was a 15-year-old varsity soccer standout at Covington Catholic Excessive Faculty in Park Hills when a drunk driver slammed right into a automotive he was in with buddies in 1999, in response to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The crash left him with a traumatic mind harm, confined to a wheelchair and in a coma for 3 months.
He has since devoted his life to educating younger individuals concerning the risks of impaired driving.
“If there’s one factor about Brad, he’s a fighter,” his father wrote on Fb.
“He all the time reminds us that he’s Champ. He certainly is deserving of that title right this moment.”
Police have since arrested James McGillicuddy in reference to Tuesday’s devastating incident — the third time he’s been caught with an open container in his automobile, prosecutors mentioned.
He was charged with working a motorcar underneath the affect, possession of an open container in a motorcar, assault and prison mischief, the outlet reported.
“After he was arrested, they discovered circumstances of beer and an open alcoholic beverage container that was nonetheless chilly to the contact,” Kenton County Commonwealth’s Lawyer Rob Sanders mentioned.
“Because of this driving impaired is so harmful, as a result of it solely takes one time to have tragic penalties.”
The reckless driver reportedly posted a $10,000 bond and is due again in courtroom on July 15.
