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MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 59-year-old man was struck and left for dead on Milwaukee’s south side in a hit-and-run incident that occurred Saturday evening, November 2nd near Forest Home and Howard Avenues -- and his family says he could be paralyzed.
The man is recovering at Froedtert Hospital from a major surgery, and his family says the last few days have been surreal -- saying their lives may never be the same.
"My dad is a fighter. He is one of the toughest guys I know," Joseph Konczal said.
Konczal says his father, David has spent the last three days in the intensive care unit at Froedtert Hospital.
"You don`t really know what to say. You don`t really know what to do," Konczal said.
Konczal says his father has no feeling from the neck down.
"You`re just standing by hoping and praying and wishing for the best outcome," Konczal said.
Konczal says David was the victim of a hit-and-run incident that occurred after he had come to the area of Howard and Forest Home Avenues to help Joseph with a stranded vehicle.
"He gets the gas can, starts walking across the street to go fill the car with some gas and a car just came and just took him. It happened all so fast, you know. Brake lights never even came on. The car just kept booking," Konczal said.
He says David Konczal was left motionless on the side of the road.
"Road rashed for sure. His spine, he had two broken vertebrae," Konczal said.
Konczal says his father has a 50-50 chance of regaining some movement.
"It`s sad, it`s really sad. I wouldn`t want nobody to go through this," Konczal said.
Konczal says his father has been conscious and speaking -- though since surgery Tuesday he has been on a respirator.
Milwaukee police say a suspect in the case has been arrested. The District Attorney's Office will review the case on Wednesday.