Somerset Man Who Hit Holmdel's Tim McDonnell in DWI Sentenced

Holmdel, NJ - The man who police said was driving drunk and slammed into 20-year-old college student Tim McDonnell as he crossed a New Brunswick street in 2014, critically injuring him, has been sentenced.

On Jan. 26, Michael Schenck, 32, of Somerset was sentenced to 6 months in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, and four years probation. The sentencing was part of a plea agreement to assault by auto. His license was also suspended for three months.

As part of his probation, Schenck must undergo a drug and alcohol dependence evaluation and may have to enroll in inpatient or outpatient rehab. He must also submit random urine tests.

And, which may surprise some, McDonnell’s father says he’s OK with that sentence.

“We had a lot of input in the sentencing,” the senior McDonnell told Patch Thursday. “(Schenck) served two tours in Iraq. As a family, we thought that should be taken into consideration.”

“Six months in jail is not easy and we hope it sends a message that you have to pay for your mistakes, but it doesn’t have to ruin another life,” the father added. “It wouldn’t help anyone to put the guy in jail for five years. It won’t make Timmy any better.”

McDonnell said the plea agreement also, “Allowed us to not have to go through a trial and relive those awful days.”

Oct. 4, 2014: The day everything changed for Tim McDonnell

On Oct. 4, Timothy McDonnell, then a 20-year-old Rutgers student, was crossing Easton Avenue at the corner of Mine Street in downtown New Brunswick. It was 2:16 a.m. Saturday morning; like most college students, he was out late, hanging out with friends.

That’s when he was struck by a 2007 Audi, driven by Schenck. For several weeks after the accident, Schenck was not charged. He then turned himself in to New Brunswick police headquarters and was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and aggravated assault.

McDonnell suffered serious head injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. He was put into a medically-induced coma at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, while his family kept a rotating 24-hour bedside vigil.

From there, he spent the next 12 weeks at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange. He had to learn how to talk and walk all over again, even while the right side of his body remained paralyzed for months.

After the accident, Holmdel rallied around McDonnell. His family was well-known in the township, in part because Tim and his younger brother, Matthew, both played basketball and football, and also because his father ran a charity, and organized fundraisers at Holmdel High School. College and professional athletes posted pictures to his Facebook page, urging him to “Fight, Timmy, fight!”

“Timmy is still making progress. He is a tough kid,” said his father. “His cognitive therapy continues and in January he spoke to my wife Clare’s CCD class at St. Catherine’s about the power of prayer.”

“His spirits are good and he realizes his life was changed forever, but he will not let it define him,” he said.

In fact, you might see McDonnell lifting weights seven days a week at Meridian Fitness in Hazlet.

Tim’s goal: To get his college diploma and return to Holmdel to teach

Tim ultimately wants to return to Rutgers and finish what he started, getting his college degree in education.

He’s been taking classes at Brookdale Community College, his father said. This winter, it’s a fitness class, Intro to Marketing as well history and sociology. While it’s still a struggle, his cognitive function seems to improve every day. In January he started refereeing third- and fourth-grade girls’ basketball for the Holmdel Youth Athletic Association.

“It is still his dream to return to Rutgers and get his degree. Then he wants to become an elementary school teacher in Holmdel so he can help kids,” his dad said.

“We feel that Timmy has improved because of the prayers and support we received from everyone,” he said. “He celebrated his 22nd birthday last month and it reminded us how much progress he has made, and how much he has improved. He is a fighter and a miracle.”

Photo: Tim McDonnell, pictured here on his 22nd birthday, in a photo supplied by his father.