SAN ANTONIO – A 24-year-old tow truck driver has been in medical care for more than three months after he was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash while working along Loop 410, according to his family.
Julian Ramirez, a devoted father of six, was struck while assisting motorists on the side of the highway in the early morning hours of February 16, his mother, Brandy Salinas, shared.
Ramirez frequently posted videos online showcasing his work, including cautionary clips about the dangers faced by tow truck drivers. His messages urged drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency and service vehicles.
According to Salinas, her son was helping two women with their vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. off Loop 410 near Ray Ellison Boulevard when the tragic incident occurred.
“He told the girls he was helping, ‘It’s OK, you can go home. I’m just going to hook it and book it, and we’ll call it a night,” Salinas recalled. “The girls insisted on staying, and if it wasn’t for them still being there, Julian would not be here.”
The San Antonio Police Department described the suspect’s vehicle as a silver sedan traveling southbound on Loop 410 near Ray Ellison Boulevard around 1:13 a.m. Unfortunately, the driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made as of now.
Salinas reported that her son has suffered extensive injuries that will affect him for life.
“He had a broken pelvis, an amputated leg, broken ribs, orbital fractures, nasal fractures, and fractures to his head,” Salinas disclosed.
Since the crash, Ramirez has remained in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities and has not yet returned home, according to his family.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Salinas emphasized that she does not harbor hatred toward the individual responsible for her son’s injuries.
“I can’t hold hatred in my heart because if I do that, it’s going to affect him,” Salinas explained. “I can’t bring any negativity toward Julian in that aspect, so all I can say is I forgive that person, and I just hope that it weighs heavily on their heart.”
The family’s primary focus is on helping Ramirez recover so he can eventually reunite with his children, who range in age from 10 months to 5 years old.
Salinas mentioned that moments like watching San Antonio Spurs playoff games have provided hope during his recovery.
“He does smile a little bit,” Salinas said, adding that Ramirez reacts during exciting moments in the games.
The family is hopeful that an upcoming surgery next month will enable Ramirez to leave medical facilities and continue his recovery at home.
Meanwhile, they are also grappling with the financial stress of child care and mounting medical bills.
“I believe we’re well over the $150,000 mark,” Salinas estimated. “Maybe even more than that.”
