Family Gives Update On Mentor Family Hospitalized By Car That Crashed Into Home

Natilee Blare offered updates on her family members' recovery Monday morning.

Early Sunday morning, a driver crashed into the home that Blare owns on Comanche Trail in Mentor.

The car ran over her son-in-law Christopher Lukasiewicz Sr. and her 3-year-old grandson Christopher Lukasiewicz Jr.

The older Christopher has several broken bones throughout his body but he is in stable condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. The family doesn't expect him to get out of the hospital for three weeks, Blare said.

The younger Christopher was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. However, he is improving, Blare said. He is showing signs of consciousness and doctors plan to remove his breathing tube Monday.

The crash also caused a wall in the home to collapse. That wall would have landed on Blare's 18-month-old granddaughter Cassy Lukasiewicz had it not been for the infant's play pen, Blare said.

The girl is also at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. However, she is doing well under the circumstances. She has to wear a neck brace as a safety precaution -- and she hates it, Blare added -- but, otherwise, she is fine.

Finally, Blare's daughter, Tonya Blare, has a broken foot. She was treated and released from Lake West Medical Center Sunday. She spent Monday morning at Rainbow while Natilee Blare went to the court hearing of the man accused of causing the damage.

Daniel Vanderhoof Jr., 28, of Willoughby faces four charges of aggravated vehicular assault. He is also accused of drunken driving, driving without a license, reckless operation and fleeing the scene of a crash.

Police think both speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

When asked if she had a message for Vanderhoof, Natilee Blare said, "I feel sorry for him."

But she added that she also thought he was a "menace to society."

Blare's boyfriend Daniel Bunsey was upset that Vanderhoof called the crash "a really big accident" during his arraignment Monday morning.

"An accident is not getting liquored up and going 100 mph and driving through the front door and injuring four people," Bunsey said.

Blare's house will likely need to be demolished and she doesn't have insurance on it, she said.

But the house matters far less to Blare than the people inside of it.

Blare and Bunsey said a trust will be set up in the near future to help the Lukasiewicz-Blare family. When the trust is set up, we will post an update on how people can contribute.