Chad Snyder has multiple broken bones, bruised lung
Gilroy – All the years John Snyder spent as a firefighter are helping him make sense of a head on collision that killed one man and seriously injured his son.
Snyder sighed, the hairs on his silver mustache twitching a bit, as he thought about his son Chad laying in a San Jose hospital, and what happened to Jose Vargas, the 32-year-old Watsonville man who died in the accident.
The California Highway Patrol said Vargas, for unknown reasons, drove his minivan across solid yellow lines Tuesday, and collided with Chad Snyder’s truck at the intersection of Rogge Lane and Highway 129 in Aromas.
“You know, I’ve seen too many accidents that were caused by diabetic coma, heart attack or something else, to really say much,” Snyder said.
Snyder remained composed when he thought about Vargas further.
“I have compassion for his survivors. If it were up to Chad, he’d be the first one to have compassion for that driver,” Snyder said.
Snyder’s son, Chad, has been in and out of surgery since the Tuesday accident. Snyder’s wife, Karen, said that their son has a broken shoulder, broken ribs along the right side of his body, a bruised lung and ruptured intestines.
John Snyder said a seat belt and airbags saved Chad’s life, noting his son had no head injuries. Snyder said he was grateful to medical crews and authorities at the scene of the accident.
“If it wasn’t for the Aromas CDF and firefighters, the CalStar helicopter, the CHP and the fantastic team at Regional Hospital in San Jose, Chad would have died,” Snyder said as his wife patted him on the back.
Karen Snyder said Chad loves his dog, Mongo, a Labrador and St. Bernard mix, very much.
“Whoever gets to marry Chad has to accept Mongo as her child,” John Snyder said.
John said that his son graduated from California State University, Chico with a degree in hospitality, and that he just got into the mortgage business. Karen Snyder added that her son’s friends and family from all over California and Arizona had come to support him.
“He loves people, and people love him,” John Snyder said, adding that his son enjoys reggae music and likes to eat at Erik’s Deli.
Friends created a Myspace page for Chad and his dog Mongo, and John said that he was told the page is overflowing with wishes and cheerful messages.
“Chad can’t see the page yet, but the messages will be right there waiting for him,” John Snyder said.
Rachelle Gines is an intern attending San Francisco State University. Reach her at 847-7158 or rg****@************ch.com.
