Jonathan Forero just got home from hospital on Wednesday, more than a month after being thrown from his wheelchair by a hit-and-run driver.
On Nov. 5, Forero, 19, was thrown three metres from his motorized wheelchair when he was struck by the driver, who then fled.
The collision occurred around 6 p.m., after Forero and his girlfriend had left Surrey Central SkyTrain Station. They were heading down 95A Avenue near 133 Street, and Forero was using the road, as there wasn’t a sidewalk.
He remembers being tight to the side of the road, and hearing a car come up behind him.
“I felt a big hit… I hit the ground, and I wasn’t unconscious, but I couldn’t move,” he said.
The driver sped off.
Forero – who has brittle bone disease, which makes his bones extremely fragile – suffered multiple leg fractures and broken bones around his shoulder. After a painful month in hospital, he is now home, and says he is doing “pretty good.”
Within days of Forero’s story going public, a member of the public saw a purple Honda Civic with front end damage and called police.
Police found the car, interviewed the driver, and are now recommending charges of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and obstruction of a peace officer.
Surrey RCMP said it was highly rewarding to bring a quick conclusion to the investigation and take that news to Forero.
“He’s been through a lot, and certainly he didn’t need to go through more,” said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bert Paquet.
The accused is a 32-year-old Surrey man who has no serious criminal history.
Forero said he was happy to hear police had identified the person they think is responsible for the crash.
“I was excited and happy,” he told The Leader Wednesday. “Hopefully I get to meet him.”
He doesn’t wish any harm to the person who hit him, but wants him to take responsibility.
If charges are approved by Crown counsel, the accused can be named publicly.