By Elizabeth Teitelbaum and Samuel Rubenfeld
A University student was hit by a car while walking across the intersection between Uniondale Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike on Monday, April 14, and is now recovering at Nassau University Medical Center.
Gregory Welch, a junior sociology major, was walking at the intersection near McDonald’s at 1:50 p.m. when he narrowly managed to avoid an oncoming truck, but failed to see the car that was driving alongside it.
The car struck Welch, instantly knocking him unconscious.
The driver was a 20-year-old female student from Nassau County Community College who was “hysterical,” according to Gregory’s mother, Lisa, who is the associate director of graduate programs in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business.
Nassau County Police would not comment to The Chronicle, citing family privacy concerns.
Welch was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was taken in for emergency neurosurgery, his mother said. Welch sustained a serious brain injury, suffered a laceration on his left arm and contusions on his lungs.
When Nassau County Police and Uniondale Fire Department Emergency medical technicians arrived, he was already unconscious, according to Kevin Harvell, a junior drama production major, who is a volunteer EMT for the Uniondale Fire Department.
A half hour after the incident, public safety officers along with Nassau County Detectives arrived at Welch’s mother’s office to alert her of the incident.
“When I arrived he was in critical condition and in surgery,” Welch’s mother said. “These last two weeks have just been a roller coaster ride, but I am hanging in there.”
“They are trying to get his temperature under control and then he can be moved out of the ICU.”
Sophomore Rachel Possen walked by the scene two hours after it occurred and witnessed police blocking off the scene around the empty car with a smashed-in windshield.
“I thought it was a shooting, but I later found out from my floor mate who knows him that it was a car accident,” Possen said.
“We want to move him to a Rehab facility and right now it’s just a waiting game,” Welch’s mother said. “He is a really strong kid. He has the will to live. He’s going to get better.”
Late Wednesday night, he is reportedly improving, having moved from the intensive care unit to a regular hospital room, according to someone in close contact with the family who would only speak on the condition of anonymity. “He’s sitting up, responding to commands and trying to talk,” the person said.
“He’s got a long way to go,” said Celeste Mihalo, Welch’s cousin. “These are the small steps in the beginning, but he’s making progress, little by little.”
Welch’s mother was grateful for the attention her son received. “He loves Hofstra and is having a great time,” she said. “He loves to go to the gym and he loves hanging out with his friends. He’s doing really well in school. The family would like to thank everybody for their continued support and prayers.”