The family of a 22-year-old Algonquin man seriously injured from a car crash involving a drunk driver has launched an online funding campaign to help raise money for medical expenses.
Brandon Ferreira suffers from a spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the waist down after being a passenger in a car allegedly hit by Ruben Zendejas. As of Monday, Ferreira’s family had raised $8,600 out of a $50,000 goal.
The crash occurred at about 2:17 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the intersection of Route 176 and Oak Street in Crystal Lake when Zendejas allegedly was speeding and ran a red light, according to a Crystal Lake Police Department press release.
Ferreira was taken to Centegra Hospital in Woodstock, but was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit. As of Feb. 15, he was moved out of ICU and transferred to the Rehab Institute of Chicago.
Zendejas, 24, of Hoffman Estates, has been charged with aggravated DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, disregarding a traffic light and failure to carry a license, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Zendejas remained held at the McHenry County Jail with a bail of $50,000 on Monday. As of Feb. 11, Michael Combs, head of the criminal felony division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office, told the Tribune that he asked Judge Sharon Prather to increase Zendejas’ bond to $100,000.
The Tribune also reports that Zendejas was arrested 12 times since 2008 on alcohol- and drug-related charges while driving on a suspended license.
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A Friday court appearance was scheduled for Zendejas.
To donate to the campaign, visit the funding page here.
