Fundraiser Created for Man, 71, Left Paralyzed from January Head-On Crash

ORLANDO, Florida—A fundraiser has been created for the elderly man who was airlifted following a head-on collision in January at a Eustis intersection notorious for crashes.

Bernard Perry was left paralyzed after a head-on crash in Eustis in January. PHOTO: Damion Perry/gofundme

A 19-year-old Leesburg man was driving a Dodge Ram south on County Road 452 when he attempted to make a left turn on County Road 44 and turned into the path of a black Toyota sedan being driven by Bernard Perry, 71, of Zellwood around 6:30 a.m. Jan. 19. The front of the truck struck the front of the sedan, seriously injuring Perry and he was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, Eustis Police Department Capt. Jon Fahning told Inside Lake in January.

The driver of the Dodge told EPD he believed he had a green arrow when he made the turn, but a witness said it was a solid green light and the witness did not believe the driver of the Dodge had enough time to make the turn.

According to a gofundme organized by Perry’s son, Damion Perry, the crash left Bernard Perry paralyzed from the shoulders down.

First responders work a head-on crash in this photo from Jan.19. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

“Our family has created this page to raise funds to help support Bernard in his journey to rehabilitation. The funds raised from this page will help him receive additional medical, rehabilitation and other supports. Our family’s goal is to ultimately relocate my father back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he will be able to receive the more immediate attention of our family’s support,” Damion Perry stated on the fundraising page.

The fundraiser had collected more than $2,600 of its $75,000 goal at press time; to donate visit Bernard Perry Car Accident Medical

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