Hulk Hogan's son's crash victim update

URY914 · URY914's Garage

You may remember that Hulk Hogan's son was in a car wreck in August. Nick (son) was driving and the passenger was severely injured. Here is the latest update from today's local paper...

"The young Marine severely injured in a car accident involving Hulk Hogan's son will need lifelong care and at best will only be able to open and close his eyes periodically, according to court documents. John Graziano, 22, was the passenger in a yellow Toyota Supra driven by Nick Bolla, 17 when it crashed in Clearwater on Aug 26. According to court documents Graziano was not wearing a seat belt. A Sept 19 report filed by registered nurse Joanne Jones said: He was on total life support; he responds to a pinch and has a gag reflex but does not otherwise respond to touch or sound; his pupils are fixed, meaning they don't respond to light; the wreck broke his skill at the base; he had part of his skull cut out and experienced brain swelling. In an addendum to her report, Jones said Graziano's doctor, H. Bushnell Clark, told her that he will at best "open his eyes on and off". He states that this young man most likely will spend the remainder of his life in a nursing home."

Nice work Nick. I hope he get jail time for this.

Hawktel · 10-09-2007, 10:43 AM

I think the kid needs to face some pretty harsh penalties.

Kid has training. Its not like he was some reject from the local driving school. Time for him to man up and take his legal lumps.

What kind of professional driver doesn't insist his passenger wears a seatbelt.

NICKG · 10-09-2007, 11:05 AM

he won't get jail...rich people never get jail.

frogger · 10-09-2007, 11:08 AM

The passenger wasn't wearing seatbelts. Great move. It's a pity that some people can only learn by (their own) experience.

TerryBPP · 10-09-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

The passenger wasn't wearing seatbelts. Great move. It's a pity that some people can only learn by (their own) experience.

Ditto, if you are not wearing your seat belt all blame fall on you. Most people will speculate that he still would have been injured but its just speculation.

Jims5543 · 12:33 PM

I got a ride in a 280 RWHP Supercharged RX8 2 weeks ago, the shop owner of Pettit Racing took me for a spin. Cam is pretty well known in the RX7 world for his antics behind the wheel. The guy can drive and he will take risks on the street that I would never take.

I have read stories online about him and I have been a passenger once before in the same RX8 6 months prior when it had about 30 less HP.

My first move when I get in the car is to buckle up tight and hold on.

He took me for a spin on his "test track" in an industrial park not developed yet. We took a corner in 2nd gear sideways onto a decent straight, I expect him run through 3rd gear and let out, he actually hit 4th gear for a couple of second and braked,..... really really late... so late I almost yelled at him. He braked and downshifted so hard I was being pushed against the seatbelt and had to push my feet on the floor.

This is a typical ride in his car. I made sure to buckle up.

Was it irresponsible? Yes, did I know what I was getting into? Yes. If we wrecked and I got hurt would I sue? I don't know, I am a fairly honest person and I knew the potential for injury getting to the car. Hence my seatbelt on tight, even for the 1/2 mile ride.

Nick screwed up, he wrecked and he was probably doing something stupid when it happened.

The 22 year old (in the 17 y/o kids car) made 2 poor decisions, 1 he got in a 17 y/o kids car and 2 he never buckled up.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-09-2007, 01:53 PM

In this situation, I'd say a lawsuit is a given. The victim does not have any say, so remaining family will go after the Hogan's money. Stupidity all around, for both driver and passenger.

Jeff Higgins · 10-09-2007, 01:56 PM

Pretty easy to get pissed because a celebrity kid "caused" all of this. Why is it folks are so want to see the rich and famous "get theirs"? We just love to see the mighty fall, don't we...

At best, there is shared responsibility here. It is tragic what happened to the passenger, but he was responsible at least insofar as his decision not to wear the seatbelt. One would assume he was not there against his will, and probably never told Hogan's kid to back off. A young Marine is never going to imply, much less say he is afraid, no matter how dangerous and stupid the situation becomes.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

No seatbelt... no sympathy from me...

Joeaksa · 10-09-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azasadny

No seatbelt... no sympathy from me...

Hate to say it but I lean in this direction as well. You get in a car, you put the belt on. If you choose not to do this then the majority of the blame is on you...

dewolf · 10-09-2007, 04:24 PM

Well a Princess and two others died in the most famous of 'not wearing a seat belt' accident. The only survivor had his on.
I think Nick is partially to blame. If you are going to have a bit of a 'fang' then insist the seat belt be worn.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Like the paramedics will tell you, they never unbuckle dead people.

I would say Nick is good for 75% of the blame here. Witnesses have said they were racing. The wreck wouldn't have happened if Nick didn't hit a tree going backwards at a very hight rate of speed.

I don't know if Nick was wearing his belt, but he did walk away.

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

Nick has "got his". Imagine going through life knowing that you did that to another human being? Anything else he gets will pale in comparison.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I drove by the site of the wreck a few weeks ago. The tree looks pretty good. Much better than that POS Supra.

911teo · 10-10-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Hate to say it but I lean in this direction as well. You get in a car, you put the belt on. If you choose not to do this then the majority of the blame is on you...

I am with Joe and the others in this situation. No seatbelt and a lot of blame sits with you.

Plus we don't know the circumstances.... yes the ended up against a tree and the car was demolished. But have u seen videos of the manufacturers crash tests? At 40mph against a standing obstacle and any car gets destroyed.

Maybe he lost control of a highly powered car at 50mph...

Then again I refuse to drive if my passengers do not wear a seatbelt.

It is all very tragic.

David · David's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by azasadny

No seatbelt... no sympathy from me...

Same here. I don't put the car in gear until everyone is belted in. Unfortunately, then I go out and drive like a idiot

.

berettafan · 10-10-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cesiro

I got a ride in a 280 RWHP Supercharged RX8 2 weeks ago, the shop owner of Pettit Racing took me for a spin. Cam is pretty well known in the RX7 world for his antics behind the wheel. The guy can drive and he will take risks on the street that I would never take.

I have read stories online about him and I have been a passenger once before in the same RX8 6 months prior when it had about 30 less HP.

My first move when I get in the car is to buckle up tight and hold on.

He took me for a spin on his "test track" in an industrial park not developed yet. We took a corner in 2nd gear sideways onto a decent straight, I expect him run through 3rd gear and let out, he actually hit 4th gear for a couple of second and braked,..... really really late... so late I almost yelled at him. He braked and downshifted so hard I was being pushed against the seatbelt and had to push my feet on the floor.

This is a typical ride in his car. I made sure to buckle up.

Was it irresponsible? Yes, did I know what I was getting into? Yes. If we wrecked and I got hurt would I sue? I don't know, I am a fairly honest person and I knew the potential for injury getting to the car. Hence my seatbelt on tight, even for the 1/2 mile ride.

Nick screwed up, he wrecked and he was probably doing something stupid when it happened.

The 22 year old (in the 17 y/o kids car) made 2 poor decisions, 1 he got in a 17 y/o kids car and 2 he never buckled up.

As we all know teenagers are dumbasses and getting into ANY car with ANY teenager is a dangerous thing. A driver is responsible for his passengers to be sure but i think that is somewhat mitigated when the passenger does not buckle up. Jim's response is a perfect example of how to be an adult and take responsibility for one's actions.

A tragedy for sure and those of us who have kids are no doubt very moved by this story. It's been told a million times by a million different people. I don't know how i'll get any sleep when my little man (now 3) is old enough to drive.

berettafan · 10-10-2007, 05:08 AM

oh and no 17yr old should be driving such a car.