NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Staten Island woman, 19, was attacked by her boyfriend in Tennessee last month, which left her blind in both eyes, according to her family.
Meghan Fitzgerald, a member of the Curtis High School class of 2021 and a lacrosse player for both Moore Catholic High School and Curtis High School, was staying at the home of her boyfriend, Alexander Rice, in Crossville, Tenn., on Feb. 5, her family told SILive.com.
Rice allegedly assaulted Meghan, knocking her unconscious before gouging out one of her eyes and irreparably damaging the other at some point during the night, Meghan's stepfather, Gregory Flood, told the outlet.
Flood added that Rice fled his family's home in a car with Meghan and a 13-year-old relative after covering Meghan's head with a towel.
According to the Crossville Chronicle, the Crossville Police Department and members of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department followed Rice as he allegedly crashed into two patrol units and another car.
Rice then jumped out of the car and fled a short distance on foot before a taser was used and he was taken into custody.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Department told SILive.com that Meghan was found with bite marks on her cheek and neck, severe bruising on her face and both of her eyes swollen shut.
She reportedly told investigators that an assault had occurred the night before.
Meghan was airlifted by helicopter from the scene to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where she underwent surgery. On Feb. 10, she returned to Staten Island and spent the following week at NYU's Eye Center in Manhattan.
Flood noted that, while her optic nerves are still attached, the damage to her eyeballs, corneas, and retinas is so severe that several eye specialists informed her that, for the time being, she will not be regaining sight in either eye.
In a GoFundMe page created by Meghan's mother, she said that her "daughter has a new and different journey to embark on with many adjustments."
"If you’re looking for ways to help, I am creating this fund to help aid in Meghan’s medical and emotional healing and home improvements since she will now have to navigate daily living as she recovers from this tragedy," her mother added.
More than $18,000 has been raised so far.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman said that Rice is charged with driving under influence, reckless endangerment, failure to report an accident, evading arrest, leaving the scene of accident, reckless driving, resisting arrest and aggravated assault.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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