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Northville Teen Has Leg Amputated After I-96 Crash That Injured 9

DETROIT (WWJ) - Friends, family and classmates of Sean English are pulling for the teen as he recovers from critical injuries he sustained in a multi-vehicle crash Sunday in Detroit.

The 16-year-old Northville resident and his family had stopped to help at the scene of an SUV rollover accident, along eastbound I-96 near M-8, when he was struck by another car. His injuries were so extensive his left leg had to be amputated. He's reportedly on a ventilator.

A Go Fund Me effort to help English has reached more than $32,000.

Michigan State Police Trooper Patrick Arena is being credited with saving English's life after he used a tourniquet on the boy at the scene.

"There's a high propensity for injury out there, so...I can't say I recommend it, but people do stop and people do help very frequently, which is often very beneficial to people with injuries," Arena said.

University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy Principal Anthony Trudell says English, a junior there, sings in the choir and had been a cross-country runner since 7th grade.

"It would not surprise me if, on the other side of this, if he will internalize this as a new challenge," Trudell told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "He's the kinda guy that's going to use this as a challenge. He accepts something as a challenge to give back or to show this isn't gonna beat me, and that's just the spirit that Sean has."

Trudell was with the family during English's surgery.

"The thing he said, what was interesting, to his mom was, 'Mom, I hope this wasn't my fault.' Can you believe that? If that doesn't tell you something about Sean," Trudell said. "But he went in with good spirits, and if anybody's going to beat this it's going to be Sean."

It's unclear at this time when English will be out of the hospital. Arena said he plans to stop by the hospital to check on him later this week.

"You know, it's kind of a life-changing moment for both of us that we shared," he added, "so it would be nice to reconnect with him."

Nine people were injured in all, police said, including Henry Ford Hospital Dr. Cynthia Ray — another good Samaritan who stopped to assist.

Cynthia Ray MD
Dr. Cynthia Ray (credit: Henry Ford Health System)

Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell said that Ray remained in critical condition Monday, undergoing surgery at Sinai-Grace Hospital.

In a statement, Ray's colleagues at Henry Ford said they were saddened by the news.

"Ray has been with the Henry Ford family since 2005 and is widely known as a stellar physician and kind, compassionate colleague," spokesperson Brenda Craig said, in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Ray's family and the entire Henry Ford pulmonary team."

The driver of the third vehicle involved, who had to be removed from his car with the Jaws of Life, remains in critical condition, police said. Six teens in the SUV received non-life threatening injuries.

Police believe alcohol was a factor in the second crash. An investigation is ongoing.

[A Gofundme page has been set up to raise money for English and his family].

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