Hit By A Drunk Driver, Holmdel Native Hired By School District

Holmdel, NJ - Oct. 4, 2014. Two years ago this week.

Timothy McDonnell, then 20, was a student at Rutgers University. He had recently graduated from Holmdel High School, where he was a standout on the football and basketball teams.

It was a Saturday and it was 2:16 a.m. Like most college students, McDonnell was out late, hanging out with friends. He crossed Easton Avenue in downtown New Brunswick, and that's when WHAM. He was hit by a 2007 Audi, driven by Michael Schenck, who would later turn himself in and be charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and aggravated assault. (As Patch reported, Schenck, an Iraq war vet, was sentenced to 6 months in jail. Read why Tim's Dad said he's OK with that.)

To say McDonnell made a comeback is an understatement: He suffered serious head injuries in the crash, including a traumatic brain injury. He was put into a medically-induced coma at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He had to learn how to talk and walk all over again, even while the right side of his body remained paralyzed for months.

But he never gave up. And, at last week's Holmdel Board of Education meeting, the board approved McDonnell to work in the district as a childcare aide for its Kindergarten Wrap-Around Program. He received a standing ovation from the Board of Ed. after it approved him for the job. He'll be working at Village School, where he attended as a child.

“I refuse to let my adversity define me and I thank God for giving me a second chance,” said Tim.

Incredibly, Tim is not stopping here. He continues to take courses at Brookdale Community College, and he is working towards his goal of becoming a physical education teacher. The Board also approved him to observe Physical Education teacher John Nacarlo as part of his plan.

"Our family is thrilled beyond words for Timmy to be given this opportunity," said his mother, Clare. “We never lost hope that Timmy would resume his life one day and we know that it would never have happened without the support our family received from the Holmdel Schools and all the caring people of this wonderful town.”

McDonnell also referees for the third- and fourth-grade girls’ basketball at the Holmdel Youth Athletic Association. That's a recent picture of Tim, provided by his family.