DETROIT – There was an outpouring of support Monday morning at University of Detroit Jesuit High School as people gathered to pray for 17-year-old student Sean English.
UPDATE: Henry Ford doctor dies from injuries after being struck on I-96 in Detroit
English was one of two good Samaritans who were injured when they stepped out of their vehicles Sunday morning to help after a Jeep with six teens inside rolled over on I-96 near Fullerton.
English was with his parents, who also got out of the car to help. The parents were not injured. Dr. Cynthia Ray, who works at Henry Ford Hospital, also got out of her car to help.
Suddenly the 47-year-old M.D. and Sean English were struck by another vehicle and critically injured.
Ray underwent neurosurgery at Sinai-Grace Hospital. She is in critical condition. She is a pulmonologist at the hospital and suffered a severe head injury.
English had to have his foot amputated. Medics credit a Michigan State Trooper with using a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, which likely saved the teen's life. English remains in critical condition.
The school tweeted this Monday morning:
Hang in there, @seanenglish24! This is great to hear! #PrayForSean https://t.co/AoBUGwHWAZ
— U of D Jesuit (@UofDJesuit) April 3, 2017
Staff at University of Detroit Jesuit describe English as a wonderful young man who had dreams of running cross country in college.
"He's just an all-around great young man. He's actually running for student senate," said Chris Charbeneau, the school's music director. "All I know is that his parents said this will be a very long road. There will be several surgeries coming up, I know, because his lower body was really, really hurt. I can't imagine how Sean will feel once he's aware what's going on. I was impressed with his parents, with how grateful they were that their son is still here."
If you'd like to help the English family, you can visit this GoFundMe page.
Driver suspected of being drunk
The driver who hit the woman and teen also is 17 years old. He's suspected of driving drunk. State police said he lost control, spun out and hit English and Ray, who were on foot.
The teen driver was unresponsive after the crash and had to be cut from this vehicle with The Jaws of Life. He's also in critical condition.
Michigan State Police released this statement Monday:
In regards to the second crash in which the Good Samaritans were struck, evidence at the scene indicates that alcohol may be a factor in this incident, however, this pends further investigation and toxicology results as to whether the driver had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash. This driver remains in critical condition.
Here's a statement from the family of the 17-year-old driver:
"First and foremost, our family is asking for prayers for all the victims and their families who were involved in the horrific accident. We would also like to thank those involved in the accident who went above and beyond their duties to save lives. The family would like to clarify and provide an update on our family member's condition. The 17-year-old son was on his way to work Sunday morning. He was not intoxicated which was proven by the toxicology reports which was given to us by the hospital. He is currently in critical condition and suffers with two brain bleeds and swelling of the brain along with a fracture in his vertebrae. As you can imagine, this is devastating to all the victims and their families. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts as we continue through this process."
The family said the toxicology report was shown to them but the hospital didn't release it because "it's hospital policy to not release it until the driver is discharged."
Teens in Jeep OK
Meanwhile, the six teens who were inside the Jeep did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Their ages range from 14 to 19 years old. It's unclear what made the driver lose control on the Interstate and roll the SUV. State police said the Jeep was traveling in the left lane of eastbound I-96 when it struck the median wall, causing it to roll.
These crashes remain under investigation.
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