Dark Days For Friend Of Hogan's Son
Marine Who Was Injured In Crash With Nick Bollea May Need Lifelong Care
11Oct. 9, 2007
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Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Bollea, crashed his Toyota Supra into a palm tree in Clearwater, Fla., on Aug. 26. (AP)
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(CBS) The young man who was in the car driven by Hulk Hogan's son may be an unable to care for himself for the rest of his life, according to the St. Petersburg Times newspaper.
John Graziano, a Marine, was riding in 17-year-old Nick Bollea's Toyota Supra on Aug. 26 when the car crashed into a palm tree in Clearwater, Fla., after traveling at what police called a "high rate of speed."
The St. Petersburg Times reports that Graziano wasn't wearing his seatbelt and suffered severe head trauma.
After the crash, Nick's mother, Linda Bollea, released a statement which said that her son's "sole concern is for the well-being of his friend. On behalf of my family, we ask that your thoughts and prayers be with John and his loved ones."
The 22-year-old Graziano is under the temporary guardianship of his mother, Debra Grazianio and is in critical condition at the Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. His father, Edward Grazianio, who is estranged from Debra Grazianio, is trying to get an independent guardian appointed, according to the paper.
Last month, court-appointed medical professionals examined Graziano and he responded to a pinch and displayed gag reflexes but was unresponsive to other touches and sounds. Joanne Jones, a registered nurse who conducted the examination, told the St. Petersburg Times that Graziano was on total life support, was comatose and may have suffered a seizure.
According to Jones's report, Graziano's skull broke at the base. He also had part of his skull cut out and experienced brain swelling. He suffered cuts on the scalp and had "abnormal collections of blood under the front side of the skull."
"At this present time, (Graziano's doctor) states his prognosis remains guarded," Jones wrote in her Sept. 26 addendum to the report. "He states that this young man most likely will spend the remainder of his life in a nursing home."
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John Graziano chose not to wear his seat belt. Nick Bollea chose to drive a way-too-powerful auto at an unsafe speed. Both were foolish acts........Neither was anywhere nearly as risky as some of the stuff I did routinely when I was their ages. I won''t share any of those tales with anyone on this board because I don''t want people getting ideas; but I traveled as close to the edge as was possible and still came out with my skin whole more times than I can count......
Therefore I refuse to point the finger of scorn at these two - I''m sure at least one of them is doing enough of that to himself already - but instead hope that things will work out for the best for all involved.
I will bet that all of you at one time or another have taken part in or new people that took part in these types of activities as teens. So don''t sit here now on your high horse and judge the boy I am sure he is doing enough of that on his own.
Especially when this happened because of plain carelessness and stupidity.
This kid should go to jail.
neoconslayer at 03:48 PM
Wow. Guess you''ve never made a mistake.
I didn''t know God comments here.
No seatbelt no compassion??? What a jackass. Not only is he a human being, he is a marine. What are you doing to improve the world?
I will pray for this young man who took an oath to give his life in denfense of the country you live in. And I will pray for your soul also. Although I''m not sure you have one. And for the young man driving the car also. He is so young and we all have made stupid mistakes. Stand by your friend, that''s what you can do for him now.
And forgive yourself. I hope that your family stands by you and helps you through this.