Syracuse, NY - Crash victim Richard "Richie" Zimmerman came out of a coma, opened his eyes and mouthed, "I love you" to a friend this weekend. The 23-year-old Lysander man's car was struck head-on Thursday night by a speeding driver whom police say was responsible for two spectacular crashes on two consecutive days. Doctors Friday put a rod in...
View full sizeRichard "Richie" Zimmerman
Syracuse, NY - Crash victim Richard "Richie" Zimmerman came out of a coma, opened his eyes and mouthed, "I love you" to a friend this weekend.
The 23-year-old Lysander man's car was struck head-on Thursday night by a speeding driver whom police say was responsible for two spectacular crashes on two consecutive days.
Doctors Friday put a rod in Zimmerman's leg to repair a broken femur. The surgery was a success, but Zimmerman lost a lot of blood so he needed blood transfusions, said Carolyn Jones, Zimmerman’s friend and supervisor at the Best Buy store in DeWitt.
Saturday, Zimmerman was weaned out of a coma at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and eventually opened his eyes.
"He gave me an 'I love you,'" Jones said. "He’s slowly improving. Things are looking up."
But Zimmerman, who was driving to his home on Cramer Road when Clifton R. Reynolds struck his car head-on, has a long road to recovery.
Zimmerman is expected to have surgery Monday or Tuesday on his left arm. Jones said Zimmerman's left arm, from his fingers to his elbow, were crushed in the crash. Jones said her friend also will need more surgeries on his femur in the future.
"He’s in a lot of pain," Jones said.
View full sizeThis is the 2008 Chevrolet Impala Richard "Richie" Zimmerman was driving Thursday night in Baldwinsville when Clifton Reynolds hit him head-on with a 2007 Chevrolet Trail Blazer, police said. Zimmerman remains in the hospital; Reynolds is in jail.
Reynolds, 35, of 8406 Gaskin Road, Clay, was speeding when he tried to pass a car on River Road in Lysander — crossing a double-solid line in a curve, Sheriff Kevin Walsh has said. Reynolds collided head-on with Zimmerman's car.
One day earlier, Reynolds crashed a sport utility vehicle into two vehicles and then slammed into the entrance of Pier 57 in Clay.
He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation, imprudent speed and driving to the left of pavement markings following Wednesday's crash. In Thursday’s crash, Reynolds was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving, imprudent speed and driving to the left of pavement markings.
A Clay Town Court judge remanded Reynolds to the Onondaga County Justice Center. He remains in jail today.
In the meantime, Zimmerman's parents, Sharon and Michael Zimmerman, and his older brother, Michael, have been staying at his bedside. Sharon Zimmerman has taken a leave of absence from her job until Richie recovers completely, Jones said.
Zimmerman's co-workers at Best Buy in DeWitt have raised about $200 for Zimmerman's family to use to pay for parking at the hospital and for other related expenses.
Jones said the other two local Best Buy stores are starting to collect donations, and a fundraiser is being planned. Anyone who wants to make a donation can drop it off to Jones at Best Buy in DeWitt or at Pier 57 in Clay.
Pier 57 owners Bill and Noreen Ennis have agreed to provide a few meals a week for Zimmerman's family while they are visiting him in the hospital.
"We're helping someone in need," Bill Ennis said. "We're very thankful our customers and our employees didn't get injured. We feel for (Zimmerman and his family) because his accident was way worse than ours. Ours was just things, like doors and windows, that can be fixed."
Pier 57 resturant is open, although the entrance way will have to be remodeled, Ennis said.
Jones said Zimmerman's parents have told her how grateful they are for everything that others are doing to help them through this difficult time.
"His family appreciates everything that’s being done," Jones said. "It’s really tough for them. They have a hard time holding it together. They feel good knowing people praying for him."
Contact Catie O'Toole at cotoole@syracuse.com or 470-2134.