'Literally lifeless': Wife of man hit by stolen truck speaks out

The wife of a motorcyclist who sustained severe injuries after being struck by a stolen Ford Ranger in Carlow shared her story with RTÉ's Prime Time. Hari Priya Kuber Singh's husband, Jackson, was hit by the truck on July 8 while stopped at traffic lights en route to work. Five teenagers are suspected to have been involved in the incident, which was captured on a dashcam and widely shared online.

The stolen truck collided with a car ahead, causing Jackson to be thrown to the ground, and then drove over him. He suffered a brain bleed, liver damage, broken ribs, shattered pelvis, and multiple facial fractures.

Hari Priya expressed that she didn't feel anger towards the teenagers, stating, "We’ve all been teenagers. We all do crazy things." The stolen vehicle did not stop at the scene, and a number of the alleged perpetrators were arrested shortly after. Shortly after the crash, Hari Priya and her nine-month-old daughter Ellora moved to Cork to be closer to Jackson, who has been receiving treatment in Kilkenny, Cork, and Dublin. Her mother joined them in Cork to help care for Ellora.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Hari Priya initially believed Jackson's injuries were minor. However, she was shocked to learn the extent of his injuries upon seeing him in the hospital. She said, "He was literally lifeless." She held cotton to his bleeding ear in an attempt to keep him calm. She described Jackson's strength and carefulness, which she believes helped save his life. Doctors noted that Jackson's protective clothing and muscle mass were instrumental in his survival.

Jackson faces a long road of rehabilitation, with potential challenges to his jaw alignment, nose, sense of smell, and taste. His pelvis is healing well, but the front may not fully heal. Hari Priya spends around seven hours each day by Jackson's bedside, while her mother cares for Ellora. Despite the challenges, Jackson's primary concern remains his wife.