A tragic incident on New Year’s Day has left a seven-year-old boy in Dallas with a life-altering injury after an alleged drunk driver collided with his family’s vehicle. The boy, Saeed, suffered a leg amputation as a result of the crash, which occurred on the Central Expressway.
The driver, 23-year-old Michael McRae, has been charged with multiple offenses, including intoxication assault and resisting arrest, after witnesses reported him driving recklessly, swerving between lanes and speeding. Following the collision, Saeed was ejected from the car and found lying on the roadway, severely injured.
The family was celebrating the New Year when the incident took place shortly after 1 a.m. Saeed was traveling with his parents and sister. Witnesses described McRae’s white Honda Civic weaving through traffic before it struck the family’s vehicle, causing it to flip. Saeed was thrown approximately 60 feet from the car.
Good Samaritans rushed to his aid before emergency services arrived. While doctors were able to save his life, they could not preserve his leg, which had to be amputated below the knee due to the extent of his injuries.
In an emotional statement, Saeed’s mother, Ruksara Abbasova, expressed her fear upon seeing her son injured. “When I saw him on the ground, I thought that I would lose him,” she said. “You want to take his pain to you, but you cannot.” She is now using her experience to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. “Everyone needs to think about other people too, because you can change the life of the child, the family, for everyone,” she cautioned.
Just days after the accident, Saeed celebrated his eighth birthday. Despite the trauma, he remains optimistic, expressing gratitude for his family. “The main thing is that I’m alive, I’m with you, mom, with my family. I know that I will be good. I will be better,” he said, reflecting on his experience.
Saeed has made a heartfelt request for a therapy dog to help him cope with the emotional challenges of his recovery. His mother shared, “He said, ‘I am so sad sometimes that I lost my leg, but my pet helped me.’”
As Saeed continues his recovery in the hospital, his family is working to raise funds for his medical expenses and to acquire the therapy dog he needs. Meanwhile, McRae remains out on bond, facing charges that include failure to maintain financial responsibility.
