Spring Break
Car accident leaves two critically injured
Daily Staff Report
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Antonio Nunez and Alma Aquina remains in critical condition at Saint Josephs Hospital, while Alicia Casas, Adriana Garcia and Jose Lopez, the other three passengers in the car, escaped without any major injuries.
The five students were returning from Houston where they were taking part in an annual MEChA national conference, said Adriana Cabrera-Garcia, the co-chair of MEChA.
According to Cabrera-Garcia, Nunez is not able to talk and is currently on a respirator, while Aquina sustained a sprained neck, a broken leg and a broken pelvis.
"He had a head injury. He has a huge swollen bump on his head. He will be required too wear a head brace, like a steel cage," said Scott Myers-Lipton, a professor of sociology who has Nunez as a student last year.
Lopez, who suffered minor cuts in the accident, also said Aquina, who was the Impact Party's candidate for director of legislative affairs in last month's Associated Students election, was in critical condition, but noted that she isn't doing as bad as Nunez.
"She is able to talk. They are going to do more tests later on to check her back, her neck and her collar bone. Mainly they are looking at the neck area," Lopez said. "Antonio is not speaking. He is currently on a respirator. They may take the respirator off tomorrow or today so he may be able to talk then. He's currently heavily sedated. He will wear a neck brace for about six months."
Lopez, who was the Impact Party's candidate for the director of community affairs in last month's election, said he was sleeping in the back of the vehicle because they were taking turns driving.
"We hit the left side of the rail and the car rolled three times," Lopez said. "The windows broke out and I just tumbled with the car."
Cabrera-Garcia said she first learned about the accident late Monday night after receiving a phone call from Garcia.
"She (Garcia) doesn't really remember anything but they did flip over and that Tony (Nunez) and them had been thrown out of the vehicle and next thing they know they were flown by helicopters from the scene to the hospital in Phoenix," Garcia said.
According to Cabrera-Garcia, Nunez, Casas and Garcia were thrown from the Toyota 4-Runner, which was traveling about 70 mph, the posted speed limit.
Myers-Lipton said Lopez is staying behind in Phoenix to remain with Aquina and Nunez, while Cabrera-Garcia said Garcia and Casas were on their way home.
"He's a great guy with high energy," Myers-Lipton said "He was really committed to making this campus a better place. He's a warm and compassionate human being. He's a very wonderful guy and it's a tragedy that this happened, but we're all grateful that's he's going to be OK."
Cabrera-Garcia said it is good to know they are alive, conscious and in good condition.
She also said MEChA members are trying to coordinate ways to bring Lopez and Aquina back home to San Jose.
Donations can be made to MEChA in the AS business office.
