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GA family hoping for recovery after crash on Buckman Bridge leaves 7-year-old in critical condition

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Georgia family is asking for help to bring 7-year-old, Brand Osterhage, home.

STORY: 7-year-old has critical injuries after crash on Buckman Bridge

Only Action News Jax spoke with the father involved in the crash.

Jared Osterhage of Newnan, Georgia was taking his four kids to the Sea and Sky Air Show in Jacksonville Beach on Oct. 24. He got a flat tire on I-295 on the Buckman Bridge.

"Instinctively, I just pulled over to the right side." Osterhage said. "I didn't realize there's not a right emergency lane there."

Osterhage said he moved over as much as he could. His right tires were over the white line and his car was against the wall guarding the bridge.

"When I came to a stop, I was still in traffic. I put on my alert emergency lights and called 911." Osterhage said. "I was actually repeatedly stomping on the brake pedal just trying to make more flashing lights behind me to alert other drivers."

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Osterhage and his four children were hit from behind by a Jeep Wrangler. In a report, the Florida Highway Patrol said the Jeep Wrangler "was unable to avoid colliding with the rear of Vehicle 2 [Honda Pilot]." The Jeep driver is charged with careless driving.

This is what his Honda Pilot looked like after the crash.

Jared Osterhage of Newnan, Georgia was taking his four kids to the Sea and Sky Air Show in Jacksonville Beach on Oct. 24. He got a flat tire on I-295 on the Buckman Bridge. He pulled over and they were hit from behind by a Jeep Wrangler.

Osterhage's 7-year-old son, Brand, was sitting in the back seat where most of the damage was done.

"He was unconscious, brain injury, with some bleeding in his brain," Osterhage said. "Then, his mouth and his jaw is very badly damaged."

Brand is being treated at UF. His dad said he may be there for a while.

"He's going to need repeated surgeries," he said. "He's going to need dental work for probably his whole life."

A Georgia family is asking for help to bring 7-year-old, Brand Osterhage, home. 

The family is nearly 400 miles from their home in Georgia and have no ties to Jacksonville. They said it has been tough. A family member set up a GoFundMe page to help with the medical costs and housing for Jared, while visiting his son.

"I'm getting a lot of support from Jacksonville, and also from friends and coworkers, and so I'm very grateful for all that," Osterhage said.

Despite this horrible situation, Jared is trying to stay hopeful that his son will get past this.

"I believe he will have a normal life I believe he will recover, but we're going to have to work at that for him," he said.

If you're interested in helping with medical bills and housing, you can visit this link.

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