Accident's harm will linger
As he is sentenced, a man hears about the effects on a family of a wreck that injured his friend.
By ERIN SULLIVAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 5, 2007
BROOKSVILLE - A few hours before dawn on Jan. 23, three teenagers traveled in a car on a country road just south of town. The boys in the front, Thomas Caron and Brian Schlum, had been best friends nearly all their lives. Thomas was 18. Brian was 17. They grew up as river rats on the Weeki Wachee. Though Brian was a year younger, their birthdays were both in June, only 12 days apart.
Though all people have good sides and bad ones, Thomas was no saint on paper. He had a record similar to career criminals twice his age - burglary, battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and larceny. He was charged with a hit-and-run at the age of 14. He lived in Holiday, in Pasco County. Brian's family had moved from Weeki Wachee to Inverness.
Brian, who had an arrest for battery in 2003, had dropped out of high school, but was doing work through the Florida Virtual Academy, his aunt says. He worked with his family's company, Wild Bill's Airboat Tours, in Inverness, while he figured out what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. His brother, David, was in school to be a doctor and his uncle was one. College was on his mind.
The boys were on Saturn Road, and Thomas was driving his mom's car - no license, no insurance. According to court documents, Thomas had taken three pills of Xanax and drank alcohol. It is not known whether Brian also was impaired. Another friend, Heather Martinez of Spring Hill, also was in the car.
According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins, Thomas was speeding and lost control of the car, which spun and crashed into a fence and then a tree.
Thomas and Heather had minor injuries, but were okay.
Brian, who was not wearing a seat belt, couldn't move his legs or arms. He was taken to Brooksville Regional Hospital and then flown to Tampa General. His father and family members were there when they put him in the helicopter.
"Put a smile on your face," he told his dad, a tough-looking, tattooed biker, who sobbed. Brian didn't realize how badly he was hurt. As the chopper rose in the air, his father sank to his knees and screamed, asking God to please save his son, whom he had raised. His ex-wife lives in Michigan, but Brian lived with him, on the river, just the boys.
Brian did not leave the hospital for months. His family says that Thomas did not contact him. Brian's father, David Schlum Sr., lived in his car and showered in the hospital. Brian had pneumonia three times. He could have died at any time. David didn't want to leave his son for a second. His sister brought him food.
After he became more stable, Brian was taken to Miami for rehabilitation. A few months ago, the doctors said there was nothing left to do.
Brian is a quadriplegic. He cannot move his arms or legs. He can speak. His brain function is fine. Rods hold his head up. He is now 19 and can't feed himself or clean himself. He still wants to have children, if it's possible, but worries no girl will want him now. He is living with his mom in Michigan, because his dad is trying to find the money to build a handicapped-accessible house. Brian wants to come home.
A few days after the accident, Thomas was arrested. On Thursday, he pled guilty to the charge of DUI with serious bodily injury and was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of drug offender probation.
Because he already has served about eight months in jail, he'll serve a little more than a year in prison. He will never be able to have a driver's license during his life.
"I think Mr. Caron needed to go to prison for more than two years," said Sherry Byerly, the assistant state attorney who prosecuted the case. "However, the state of the evidence in the case made a plea far more practical."
She said she is not happy with the deal, because "there is no way to feel good about a situation that resulted in a young man being a quadriplegic."
Brian did not want his friend to go to prison for a long time. They haven't spoken since the accident, said Brian's aunt, Vicki Hughes, who lives in Spring Hill.
Brian's father was not in court Thursday. It was too painful. He did not want to see Thomas.
Vicki was there and spoke. She wanted Thomas to know how he hurt her family. None of their lives will ever be the same. Brian most likely will die young. Her brother, Brian's father, is now quiet and sad all of the time. Vicki cries every day.
But still, she needed to tell Thomas this:
"Brian still loves you," she said.
And Thomas cried.
Erin Sullivan can be reached at esullivan@sptimes.com or 352 754-6101. Times researcher Angie Holan and staff writer John Frank contributed to this report.
How to help
To donate
Anyone wishing to help Brian Schlum may contact his aunt, Vickie Hughes, at ikciv0901@yahoo.com A fund has been set up for Brian with Mercantile Bank. You can visit any Mercantile branch and make a donation, in care of Brian Schlum.