Phoenix, AZ : Teen who struck good Samaritans wasn't drunk on April, Tuesday 4th 2017

The family of a 17-year-old driver in critical condition in a crash that injured two good Samaritans helping others in another accident wants to set the record straight, they said Tuesday: The teen wasn’t drinking or using his phone and “everybody should be praying for every victim.”

“He’s a good kid,” said Steve Toth of his nephew, Keith Martin of Southgate. “Alcohol is not a factor. It’s just an accident that happened. He’s really a great kid.”

Toth’s family said they don’t know what led to the crash early Sunday on Interstate 96, but they said alcohol and phone use weren’t factors. Martin was on his way to work, according to family.

“It was the wrong place, wrong time,” said Martin’s girlfriend, Kaylee Welsh. “I feel like everybody should be praying for every victim in this.”

Authorities have said they are awaiting toxicology results for the teen.

Severely injured in the crash were Sean English, a 17-year-old University of Detroit Jesuit High School student and Henry Ford Hospital pulmonologist Dr. Cynthia Ray, 47, as they checked on others injured in a crash on Interstate 96. The two are being treated at Sinai-Grace Hospital. Ray also remained in critical condition Tuesday evening.

English’s family said said he wants people to know “he is still Sean.”

He also is “grateful for everyone’s prayers.”

The teen’s improving condition was shared Tuesday in a letter distributed to families of the high school by its principal, Anthony R. Trudel.

“Sean and the entire English family have been touched by the outpouring of prayers, love and support from the U of D Jesuit family,” Trudel wrote. “I continue to be moved by his fighting spirit, strength and selflessness throughout this experience.”

Toth said that English’s family hugged and cried with his family at the hospital.

“It was an uplifting moment when I heard that,” he said. “We spoke with (Dr. Ray’s) family. We expressed our prayers to them.”

English, a cross-country runner who was traveling with his parents to St. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church in downtown Detroit, has had a foot amputated. He also broke his femur and a steel rod was surgically inserted into his leg, Trudel said.

Trudel, in his Tuesday notice to the school community, wrote “Sean will most likely be in ICU for the near future,” and he urged supporters to wait at least a week before visiting.

Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign raised more than $39,000 Tuesday evening for English and his family.

“Sean was hit by a car while doing what he does best, helping others in need,” GoFundMe page administrator Kellie Murphy wrote on the page she launched late Sunday.

Murphy, 21, a senior at Arizona State University, said she attended Our Lady of Victory in Northville with English and his father had been her volleyball coach. The two families camp together each summer, she said.

“He’s just such a great kid,” Murphy said. “He is so selfless, and it’s been so cool to see all the support from people that don’t even know him. It’s just overwhelming.”

Meanwhile, Ray’s colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital have described her as a caring physician. “Ray has been with the Henry Ford family since 2005 and is widely known as a stellar physician and kind, compassionate colleague,” hospital officials said in a Monday statement.

Police said the crash happened just before 8 a.m. Sunday on I-96 near the Davison Freeway in Detroit. An SUV carrying six people lost control and flipped over a couple of times.

Several good Samaritans were out when another car came around the same curve, went into a spin and struck some of the pedestrians. English and Ray caught the brunt of it, police said.

On Tuesday, police said the investigation was continuing. “... The case will be presented to the Prosecutor’s Office for review on any potential criminal charges,” state police said in a news release.

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Teen who struck good Samaritans wasn't drunk