19-Year-Old May Lose Legs Following Accident

Phoenix, Arizona—The accident scene was a quiet residential street near 43rd Avenue and Union Hills Drive.  A young man, age 19, was waiting to help unload furniture from the bed of a parked pickup truck.  He dangled his feet from the truck's tailgate while he waited. 

A car driven by Bogdan Pop struck the back of the truck, pinning the victim’s legs between the vehicles.  Police did not release the victim’s identity.  Accident investigators report that Pop’s preliminary breath test resulted in a blood alcohol content reading of .184, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Phoenix Fire Department paramedics had to use “specialized equipment” to separate the vehicles, as well as two tourniquets to minimize blood loss.  The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of his life-threatening injuries.  Hospital employees later reported that the victim is likely to lose both lower limbs as one leg is “completely crushed” and the other “severely damaged”.

Witnesses helped detain Pop until police officers arrived, who then charged him with aggravated assault.

Our best wishes are with the victim.