How sick can people be?! My friend was critically injured..

[CountryWolf07]

A bartender at a Short North restaurant is paralyzed and an owner suffered broken ribs when a patron ran over them Thursday night, a Columbus police officer testified yesterday.

Police Officer Irma Holmes described the injuries during a bail hearing for Michael Rose, who is charged with four counts of felonious assault in the incident outside Haiku, 800 N. High St.

Municipal Court Judge Carrie E. Glaeden set Rose's bail at $500,000.

Rose, 43, of 2348 Graydon Blvd., is accused of intentionally backing his sport-utility vehicle over Haiku bartender Rachel Widomski and co-owner Julie Liu as they tried to stop him after he ran out on his bill. Police say he also hit a patron, Todd Sandler, and tried to hit a fourth person, who was not injured.

Widomski, 28, was in serious condition yesterday at Grant Medical Center. Liu, 48, was in fair condition at Ohio State University Medical Center. Sandler, 30, was treated at the scene by Columbus Fire Division paramedics.

Holmes said that Widomski has crushed vertebrae, a lacerated liver and lung damage and won't walk again. The officer said Liu has lung damage in addition to broken ribs.

Attempts to reach their family members have been unsuccessful.

Defense attorney Gregg Slemmer said of Rose: "As soon as my client became aware of the pending charges, he turned himself in."

Rose, who has two children, has a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University, Slemmer said.

[luvofallhorses]

how sad! I will keep your friend in my thoughts and prayers.

[ramanth]

How aweful. Prayers for Rachel and her family and the other victims.

[Jessika]

Were they chasing after him to pay the tab? I don't understand quite... it kind of makes it seem like he waited for them and then ran them over? But if they were chasing after him that makes more sense, though the article didn't specify.

Though that is awful, I can't believe how anyone could do that over a matter of a bar tab... it's just money... now he will go to jail for, what? Attempted manslaughter? Shame people feel the need to resort to violence like this over just petty issues...

[Catty1]

OMG - I pray that Rachel can have a miracle and be able to regain more movement than ever. Doctors have been surprised before!

This is a link to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center (PRC)
http://www.paralysis.org/site/c.erJM....BE3A/Home.htm

Before Dana died (their poor son!), she was on Oprah and some of the people that had been treated at the centre were on the show. A young woman, told she wouldn't walk again, WAS walking - in braces, but doing it herself.

I bet the bar and town could raise a lot of money for Rachel if this was an option. I know her parents and all are overwhelmed...is there anyone that could look into this for her?

Prayers that everyone recovers, and that the person arrested does something to help...I hope that time at the bar is the last drink he ever takes.

[CountryWolf07]

All I know is, from her mom what she said to the professor in class, was that Rachel and two other people ran out to catch him because he was trying to escape before they found out he did not pay the bar tab. Something like that, but he just intentionally ran them over just to get away. I don't understand people these days.

[elizabethann]

OMG. That is awful! Your poor friend. I will send good thoughts her way.