HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - The family of a man who survived a wrong-way crash is telling their story.
Twenty-two-year-old Bryan Criales holds a blank expression months after a car driving the wrong way hit him, his sister and mother in December 2015. His sister, Carmen, did not survive.
The incident occurred when Criales was traveling northbound on Interstate 95 and they were struck by a car heading southbound with no headlights.
Now, with his parents and fiancee by his side, Criales is working to recover. “He needs to learn how to pretty much do everything again: walking, talking, communicating, anything,” said Amani Gil, his fiancee. “Anything that we do on a normal everyday life. Communication right now is just through eyes. When you’re with someone so long, you can just read through them through their eyes.”
Criales’ family said he has made progress. However, he still needs help. He has lost his job as a grocery store supervisor and his temporary COBRA coverage is not enough. “No job, no insurance,” said Criales’ father, Noel Criales. “Thank so much for this amazing place. Kindred, they opened their doors and said, ‘Bring Bryan here and then we’ll talk later about payments.'”
Criales has been at Kindred Hospital recovering, however, his family is looking to move him elsewhere, so he can receive more intense therapy. “With all of my heart as a mother, I’m asking for support for Bryan, for therapy. It’s all I wish for,” said Criales’ mother in Spanish.
“I think that this is a bad dream, my daughter and my son had this situation happen to them,” said Criales’ father, Noel Criales.
The driver of the car going the wrong way, Franklin Chavez, has bonded out of jail. He faces charges of vehicular manslaughter.
Criales’ family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical costs. To donate visit: www.gofundme.com/uwfrk2xm.
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