Wrong-Way Crash Wrecked Belleville Father’s Life, Family Says

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Robert Evans underwent surgery on Thursday. He’s slated for another next week. And the struggle for the 65-year-old Belleville father is expected to continue, his family says.

Earlier this month, Evans was involved in a car crash with Soscia Salo, 43, of Lyndhurst. Authorities said that Salo was driving northbound in the southbound lanes when she collided head-on with Evans' car on Route 17 South in Rutherford.

Emergency responders rushed Evans and Salo to Hackensack University Medical Center, where Evans still remains as of Friday, according to his family.

Police later found five bags of heroin in Salo’s car; she was charged with fourth-degree assault by auto, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and was issued tickets for reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of a divided highway and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a vehicle.

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Evans’ daughter, Lauren, started an online fundraiser to help pay for medical bills and other expenses as the U.S. Census worker attempts to put his life back together. (See the fundraiser here)

According to Evans:

“My father is my world and I love him beyond comprehension. On January 8, his life, my life, and our family’s lives were changed forever when another vehicle crossed a divided highway and hit my father's vehicle head-on… His injuries are extensive. He has already gone through several surgeries and more are expected in the next few days, weeks, and years. It is truly a miracle [he] survived, but life for dad will never be the same.”

Evans praised her father’s compassion and community spirit:

“Not only is my dad a dedicated father, he is a friend to everyone and has lived a life of service. He is always there when you need him. He is a career volunteer. For example, he's the guy folks call when they need a ride to the airport or need a place to stay. On a weekly basis, he can be found driving his senior citizen neighbor to her weekly bowling event. In fact, we've been canceling that (and all of his other volunteer gigs,) because he can't serve while he has been in the hospital. Dad doesn't just take care of people; he is an avid animal lover/caregiver. He even built homes for a feral cat colony. My dad is the guy who keeps dog biscuits in his car in case he comes across a dog in need. My dad was even my Girl Scout leader. It isn't hard to see that my dad is one-of-a-kind. I cannot express enough what my father means to me. My mother passed away when I was five years old and I am an only child. For 28 years now, my dad has been my everything for me. He worked three jobs to support my grandmother and me. Now, and for the foreseeable future, I will need to be everything for him.”

But the road ahead is rocky, she says:

“He had been in the ICU for the past two weeks, and there is no end in sight to his hospital stay, to his surgeries, or to a time when he can care for himself. Insurance will only cover so much and we do not expect to recover much, if anything, from the driver. Her actions have resulted in dad breaking nearly every bone in his body and in the total destruction of his vehicle; both prevent his ability to work. The driver has the minimum insurance allowed by the state ($15,000 towards his bodily injury and medical bills) and more than likely, no assets.”

• See related article: Meet 10 NJ Families Who Had To Crowdfund For Healthcare

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Photo: GoFundMe