Local Martial Arts community to hold fundraiser Saturday for fighter who lost both legs in Somerset County crash
Double-amputee trains to hike 3.5 miles at community fundraiser organized on his behalf
MOUNTAINSIDE BOROUGH, NJ (Union County) – A fundraiser will be held Saturday to support a South Bound Brook man whose legs needed to be amputated after a crash last year in Somerset County.
On December 20, 2021 at around 1:10 p.m., police responded to Mount Horeb Road between Geiger Lane and Tiffany Court in Warren Township, Somerset County for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving pedestrians, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Responding officers located two Somerset County Department of Public Works employees with injuries sustained from the incident along with the driver of the motor vehicle, prosecutor’s office said.
One of the injured workers, John Esposito, 30, of South Bound Brook man, sustained significant life threatening injuries and was then flown to an area trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery.
The second victim, a 43-year-old Raritan Borough man, was also treated at the scene and transported by ambulance to an area trauma center where he was treated and released.
The driver of the vehicle, an 80-year-old Warren Township man, was treated at the scene and transported to an area trauma center for treatment where he remains, prosecutor’s office said.
A preliminary police investigation revealed that members of the Somerset County DPW work crew were on the east bound side of the road conducting repairs to the roadway surface when an eastbound 2016 Chrysler being operated by the Warren Township man crashed into a piece of equipment in the roadway and then into the trailer attached to the county truck which was stopped, prosecutor’s office said.
The Raritan Borough man was standing on the trailer and knocked around at the time of impact, and John Esposito was standing on the roadway behind the trailer and pinned between the Chrysler and the trailer.
Lucky to survive the accident, John underwent multiple surgeries which resulted in him having both legs amputated above the knee.
Recently fitted for prosthetic legs, John is re-learning how to walk. He is currently training to take part in a 3.5 mile fundraising hike being held for him on Saturday, September 24 at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, NJ at 9:00 a.m.
The event is being organized by a charity organization, The Muay Thai Project, and retired professional champion Chris “Mr. Classic” Romulo.
Prior to his accident John was an active Muay Thai fighter and coach. Muay Thai is a martial art which is fought in a boxing ring using kicks, punches, knees and elbows in a boxing ring. John plans to continue coaching and spreading his knowledge to the next generation of students.
All of the proceeds raised will go directly to aiding John in his recovery.
In addition to the event, a GoFundMe page has been setup to help him battle his way back.
