An 8-year-old Dallas boy who lost part of his leg after his family’s car was t-boned on New Year’s Day is back home and starting the long road of rehabilitation. After more than a month at a children’s hospital, including emergency surgery, he is now working with therapists and leaning on his family as they begin to rebuild his mobility and daily routines.
Family Pivots to Rehab, One Step at a Time
The boy, identified by his family as Said Abbaszade, returned home with his parents to a full schedule of physical therapy and new home adjustments. The family is looking for a one-story house to make it easier for Said to get around and is also considering a therapy dog to help with nightmares and the emotional fallout from the crash. Community members have stepped up in a big way, raising more than $114,000 to help cover medical bills, a prosthetic leg and the cost of moving. "I would like to see my son how he lived his previous life," his mother, Rukhsara Abbasova, said, according to FOX 4.
Police Detail Violent New Year’s Collision
Dallas police say the crash happened just after 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. A white Honda, allegedly driven by 23-year-old Michael Lavarius McRae, was reportedly seen weaving through lanes on northbound Central Expressway near Royal Lane. Officers say McRae’s car hit the family’s vehicle, causing it to flip and eject Said from the car. Bystanders found him about 60 feet from the wreck, and paramedics rushed him to a children’s hospital. Local reporting states that doctors performed an emergency amputation to save his life, as reported by NBC 5.
Charges Filed, Bond Set, Case Moves Forward
Police arrested McRae at the scene. Prosecutors have charged him with multiple offenses, including intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury, resisting arrest and failure to maintain financial responsibility. He has been released on bond while the case moves through the courts, according to charging details reported by Law & Crime. No trial date has been publicly announced, and McRae is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
What Intoxication Assault Can Mean Under Texas Law
Under Texas law, intoxication assault is generally a felony of the third degree and can carry both prison time and fines. The statute defines "serious bodily injury" to include a protracted loss or impairment of a bodily member, which is the basis for the charge in this case. A third-degree felony in Texas is punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Courts can also order conditions such as license suspension or ignition interlock devices as part of pretrial release or sentencing, depending on the circumstances; see the Texas Penal Code and Sec. 12.34.
