On June 1st around 5 a.m., Ernie Rosas was on his way to work at Q&D Construction, when an impaired driver hit his car. Rosas is now in the hospital undergoing multiple surgeries and has lost the use of both of his feet and one arm.
Rosas was actually in the 12 Step Program himself, and helping those with substance abuse issues to get the help they need.
"It's like really ironic. We were just blown away that that would happen. Ernie has turned his life around and he was doing really well and he is one of those guys that doesn't say 'I have to go to work' [but] 'I get to go to work,'" said Ernie's friend and coworker, Griff Turner.
Rosas recently had a baby and was celebrating his one year anniversary at Q&D Construction on the day of his crash. His coworkers say that he had a positive and contagious attitude in life, and that everything was going right for him. Even directly after the crash Rosas thought of others as he called up his foreman from the hospital bed in the emergency room.
"The nurse held the phone to his ear -- she was a little irritated with him because 'Ernie, we have important stuff to deal with,' and he just wanted to let me know that he was not going to make it," said Mike Lauber, Rosas' Foreman.
Officials say the impaired driver who hit Rosas was high and traveling at a high rate of speed.
The aftermath for Rosas means the very real possibility of living the rest of his life in a wheelchair, and for the impaired driver -- it means a felony.
"DUI causing substantial bodily harm is a felony charge. Drivers that are impaired behind the wheel are looking at misdemeanors to felony charges, including fines, jail time, and license revocation," said Trooper Hannah DeGoey, Public Information Officer for the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP).
Unfortunately this is just one of many stories here in Northern Nevada in terms of impaired driving.
"Last year, NHP Northern Command handled 288 crashes where impairment is a factor. During that same time period we handled 66 crashes that resulted in a fatality and 35 of those involved impairment. We can do better," said Trooper DeGoey.
Rosas' friend and coworker Griff Turner is also in the 12 Step Program and has a message for those who struggle with substance abuse.
"It's just not worth it. There's going to be some substantial prison time that goes along with this and that's two families that's going to take a loss."
Rosas' friends and family set up a GoFundMe account to help with medical bills and other expenses. You can help by visiting this link here.
