A 31-year-old Queens man died 11 days after he crashed his stand-up scooter and suffered head injuries while on his way to pick up his daughter, according to reports.
Police responded to a call of an injured man on the Queens Boulevard service road near 73rd Street in Maspeth around 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and found Derrick Cristobal conscious and alert, the Queens Post reported.
The Elmhurst man had been riding an e-scooter eastbound when he lost control, fell to the sidewalk and hit his head, according to the outlet, which reported that police could not say whether he was wearing a helmet.
Cristobal was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition — but took a turn for the worse and died on Dec. 30 after being taken off life support, according to the Daily News.
Derrick Cristobal, a 31-year-old Elmhurst father, died 11 days after suffering head injuries in an e-scooter accident on his way to pick up his daughter. Facebook
Her father, who works at Target, was on his way to pick up his daughter, Elizabeth, when the accident happened, her brother Arrizon Cristobal, 26, told the news outlet.
“When my sister reached the hospital, she was yawning, sleeping. He doesn’t remember my sister and he doesn’t talk, but you can tell he doesn’t know anybody,” Arrizon told Berita Harian.
Cristobal’s longtime partner, Vanessa Balondo, 31, said she noticed his consciousness slipping in the days that followed.
Cristobal died after being put on life support at Elmhurst Hospital. Facebook
“Even the hospital is not sure what happened to him. We just hope we can find closure on what happened to him,” he told the outlet.
After nine days, doctors gave the family a painful choice.
“They gave us the option of surgery… they’re going to remove half of his skull to release the pressure but when they do that, there’s a chance he’ll die and if it’s successful, there’s a 100% chance he’ll never be the same,” Arrizon told News.
“He will live the rest of his life with a tube in his throat or mouth for air and a tube in his stomach for food,” he said, adding that his brother would need round-the-clock care.
“We make decisions based on what he wants and what his wife wants,” Arrizon said. “Everything happened so fast … it was hard, yes, but there was a moment where it felt like he was saying goodbye in a way.”
Cristobel met Vanessa Balondo, 31, in the Philippines. GoFundMe
Balondo said Cristobal rides a VSett 9+ scooter, which he got about two years ago.
“We just hope we can find closure on what happened to him,” he told the outlet. “It doesn’t give us peace of mind because it’s, like, why did he have such a severe brain injury even though there wasn’t a collision?”
The couple, who have a daughter, met in the Philippines. After a long-distance relationship, Cristobal moved to the Big Apple to be with her, according to the report.
“Derrick and I were high school sweethearts, he was my first boyfriend. “Derrick is just a normal guy, but his love is genuine,” he said.
“Because of him I know that true love exists, especially the love he gave Elizabeth,” Balondo said. “It’s very unconditional because every day, he gives his best.”
Derrick Cristobal GoFundMe
He said they hope to have another child.
“Every time Derrick sees Elizabeth playing by herself, he wishes she had another sibling to play with,” Balondo told the News. “It is hard. I don’t know how to start again without him.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise money for the grieving family.
“Derick has always been a cheerful and loving person. He is known as a good son, a loving brother, a good friend, a fun-loving uncle to his nieces, a hard worker and most importantly a supportive husband, and the best father dedicated to his daughter. 2 years old,” the account said.
“May we always remember him with a smile on our faces, as he would have wanted,” he added.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
