Nathanial Szczerbinski of Grosse Pointe Park who was severely beaten after getting in an accident Saturday on Detroit's east side, tells WXYZ that he was the subject of racial slurs.
The 34-year-old told the station that he suspects that while he was trying to turn around while going the wrong way near Vernor and Chalmers on a one-way street, the driver in the van intentionally hit him.
He said he got out of his car to see if everyone in the van -- including some children -- was Ok.
But the beating started. He tells the station three men were involved.
"I couldn't run," he said. "I couldn't really protect myself. I would've been just asking for it. So I just prayed to God that something would happen."
He was released from the hospital but reportedly needs eye surgery.
A resident in the area, Myron Dean, 7 Action News' Dave LewAllen he heard the crash and rushed out of his house to witness what happened next.
“The man jumped out like, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for hitting you all,’” Dean said, referring to Szczerbinski’s reaction after the accident.
Fox 2 reported that the the accident happened after Szczerbinski left the Texas Bar on Detroit's east side. The station spoke to his usual waitress who described him as a nice guy who usually orders just one beer.
"Yeah, I am sad to hear what happened to him because [there was] no trouble out of him ever, no bad words, no arguments with anyone, no anything," the waitress told Fox 2.
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