Friends and family have come together in the last few days to raise more than $42,000 for 25-year-old Amir “Nick” Ekbatani who lost his leg around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday after colliding with a taxi cab while riding his motorcycle. According to reports, Ekbatani was launched off of his bike and hit his head on the curb of the neighboring Starbucks.
“A taxi cab turning left on Diamond Street struck him on his left side while he was driving northbound on Pacific Coast Highway,” Traffic Unit Sergeant Jeff Mendence said.
Friend Kim Macedo wrote in a blog post that Ekbatani was near death when the police showed up and was rushed to the intensive care unit at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. According to Macedo, Ekbatani has no recollection of how he ended up in the hospital.
“He’s always been an optimistic kind of guy,” said Macedo in a phone interview. “I’m sure in the later future that he’ll really understand what happened and sure he’ll be upset, as of right now he’s just okay with it. He says everything happens for a reason, he’s taking it with a grain of salt.”
Mendence said the investigation is ongoing and they are looking at all environmental and human aspects of how and why the incident occurred. “I think a cavalier attitude is prevalent [among drivers]. We see lots of people on cell phones and texting, besides paying attention to most import task — driving. Small mistakes can have big consequences. [This is a] good example of how dangerous small mistakes can be.”
Mendence also added that there is no indication the taxi driver was on his cell phone at the time of the collision, but the investigation is still open.
“Anyone who’s (anyone) knows that Nick is the most active, strongest person we know,” wrote Macedo on July 16. “He was a massive football player all throughout high school (South Torrance High School) and into college where he played offensive line at UCLA. Apart from that, he has always been a caring, loving, gentle giant kind of guy who has had an everlasting effect on not only his friends and family, but his peers as well. It was because of his strength and his motorcycle helmet that his life wasn’t taken. We are waiting for him to become more conscious and stable to break him the news about his leg.”
Macedo also started a gofundme.com page called “The Big Nick Fund” to raise money for Ekbatani’s prosthetic leg and surgery that he estimates could cost $30,000, even with insurance.
On July 17, Macedo updated his blog and said that Ekbatani is awake and has been talking. “He will have a surgery soon to reform the rest of his leg in the next week or so. After that it’s all about the road to recovery.”
More than 500 friends, family and strangers who heard about the fundraising efforts have been donating money to Ekbatani’s cause. Along with a donation, friends have been leaving messages they hope will be passed along to him in the hospital.
Cristina and Cathy Towers who donated $100 said, “Thinking of you Nick. We know you have the strength to overcome any obstacles presented to you.”
Friends Gary and Teri who donated $200 wrote, “We are here for you and know you will continue to be a role model with your strength and resolve. You are an amazing young man in our thoughts and prayers. We love you Nick!”
Macedo’s goal is to raise $50,000 for Ekbatani’s recovery. Armed with only a website, he reached half of his goal in just 24 hours. Friends will also host a carwash fundraiser on July 28 at South Torrance High School from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I am doing this fundraiser for two reasons,” wrote Macedo on July17. “The obvious first reason is to help financially with all the medical costs it will take to bring Nick back to his active self. The other however is for him to see how many people believe in him. The worst thing a friend can feel is for their friend to think he’s alone when your sitting right next to him. It’s something that the majority of us have not been through and never will. He knows he’s going to have to work hard to get back but I want him to do it for himself. I want him to say, “ok, all these people believe in me, so now it’s up to me.” The money we donate is more of an exchange. Our return is to see how powerful the will of this great man is and how when we come together, anything can happen.”
Visit http://ekbatani.wordpress.com/ to see Ekbatani’s personal blog, and http://www.gofundme.com/venb8 to donate.
