17-year-old arrested in hit-and-run crash that critically injured veteran

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A young Navy veteran is recovering from a hit-and-run crash that shattered bones in both of his legs.

Joshua Gonzalez, 22, said he was heading home from work on his motorcycle last Tuesday when a pickup cut in front of him while making a U-turn on Queen City Parkway in Gainesville.

'I was thrown into the air, into the opposite flow of traffic. He hit me with his front bumper. I closed my eyes and when I opened them I was under a car, and my leg was stuck and it looked kind of like a ramen noodle. They’re bunched up that’s what my legs looked like. I started freaking out." said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said he has been through three surgeries so far and has metal rods in his legs to hold bones together. He also has a shattered ankle.

"My legs were all mangled and stuff, and they had to put braces on to straighten them out." said Gonzalez.

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He said he's been through some traumatic episodes while serving in the Navy, but nothing like this.

"It was the most unbearable pain in my life." said Gonzalez.

Gainesville police tracked down and arrested the alleged driver of the pickup, 17-year-old Bryan Lopez. He faces multiple charges including hit and run, and leaving the scene of an accident. Gonzalez says he doesn’t hate the person who struck him but is relieved by the arrest.

“I feel great, but at the same time, it’s going to take me like a year before I can walk again, like have full function of my legs.” he said.

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