NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — Susan Babiasz and her husband Rich Ruscin share a love that transcends time.
“He's my life, you know,” Babiasz said. “I can't imagine that anybody who had this happen to their significant other wouldn't feel the way I'm feeling right now.”
Sunday night Babiasz was forced to wonder if she’d have to live without her husband after North Olmsted Police said Ruscin was struck by a red or maroon Hummer just outside of the couple’s home on Clague Road while attempting to help out the driver of a separate crash.
“To leave somebody in the road who's half-conscious and fighting for his life,” Babiasz said. “It just took the wind out of my sails.”
Police are still searching for the driver of the SUV days later.
“He never stopped even though my husband was laying in the street,” Babiasz said. “How could you be so cold? How could you not care about somebody?”
Ruscin was rushed to a nearby hospital where he received multiple blood transfusions and is recovering from a fractured femur, sternum, and pelvis along with several other broken bones.
“I answered the phone and all of a sudden I hear, ‘Hi, honey. How are you doing?’ And I'm like, ‘Oh my God,’” Babiasz said.
Doctors told Babiasz her husband will need to recover in the hospital for several months and will require extensive outpatient rehab once he’s released.
“They were all surprised because they really thought that he was going to die,” Babiasz said. “They didn't think he would last but he did. He proved everybody wrong.”
Babiasz said her number one priority is her husband’s recovery, but a close second is finding the driver of the Hummer which struck her husband.
“You did something wrong but you need to face the consequences,” Babiasz said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the North Olmsted Police Department.
