STAFF REPORT

COLUMBUS — A 1998 graduate of Canfield High School is paralyzed from the waist down after she and the co-owner of a Columbus restaurant were run over by a patron who walked out of the restaurant without paying his tab.


Rachel Widomski, 28, and a co-owner of the Haiku restaurant on North High Street followed a man outside the restaurant and attempted to stop him when they were run over May 15.


Police said Michael Rose, 43, of Columbus, hit the two women when he backed over them in the parking lot outside the restaurant at about 9 p.m., The Columbus Dispatch reported.


Rose is charged with four counts of felonious assault and appeared for a hearing in Columbus on Monday.


Dante Zambrini, Canfield schools superintendent, said news of the woman’s serious injuries is shocking, in part because he knew her personally and because she was such an “upbeat, pleasant and positive leader” at Canfield.


Zambrini recalls that as a student, Widomski was a “very good artist” and a “very fine young lady” who comes from a good family.


“She was very energetic and interested in her school work” and was a “very fine student,” the superintendent said.


Widomski was in serious condition Wednesday in the intensive care unit of Grant Medical Center in Columbus. Widomski is believed to have a crushed vertebrae, lacerated liver and lung damage.


Regina Reynolds, nurse at Canfield schools, said a family member by marriage has told her that Widomski’s spinal cord injury was in her lower body and that she has been able to move her upper extremities.


She had surgery on Monday, and the surgery seemed to confirm that the paralysis is probably permanent. Widomski has been heavily sedated since the accident and on a ventilator, but doctors were attempting to reduce the sedation and remove the ventilator, Reynolds said.


Mary Jean Polkovitch, honors English teacher at Canfield High, said the spirited nature of the girl who took her class a decade ago makes her believe that she will find a way to overcome her injuries.


“She’s a darling girl. I believe Rachel will fight with every fiber of her being and overcome this,” she said.


Polkovitch said Widomski, who is studying art at The Ohio State University, showed great creativity in art and language and worked hard in school.


She also was an art intern at The Vindicator in 1999.


“I’m heartsick over this. I can’t imagine someone doing this over $100,” Polkovitch said of reports she has heard of the food tab that was allegedly owed.


“For this to happen to someone with such a bright future is a travesty,” she said.


The co-owner of the restaurant, Julie Liu, 48, has lung damage and broken ribs and is in stable condition at The Ohio State University Medical Center.


Police said Rose also hit a patron, Todd Sandler, 30, and tried to hit a fourth person, who was not injured. Sandler was treated at the scene by paramedics.


Paul Liu, who owns the restaurant with his wife, released a statement Friday thanking “everybody for the outpouring of support.
”

“Please join me in praying for Julie and Rachel and her family in hopes of a full and speedy recovery,” he said.


The Dispatch reported that Rose was convicted of drunken-driving in 1994 and 2006 and is named in an eight-count indictment from January charging him with identity theft, misuse of a credit card and receiving stolen property. His trial date is June 11 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.


Justin Liu, son of the restaurant’s owners, said Widomski worked as a bartender at various restaurants owned by his parents for about three years, about one year at Haiku. He said the vehicle that hit the women apparently ran over Widomski with its front tires and that the vehicle ran over his mother four times with the rear tires.

Just wanted to give you an update on Rachel from today! I got to spend some time with her today and she is awake and talking away! I walked into the room and the first thing she said was, "let me see your ring I haven't seen it yet." I got engaged about a month and a half ago and haven't seen her so it was awesome that she put two and two together as soon as she saw my face. She is still pretty delirious from the pain medicine, and sleep deprivation so she talking a little bit silly about things. She knows we are there and can carry on a conversation but things turn funny and we have to bring her back to the real things that are happening. She was told that she will not be able to walk ever again today, and responded with a smile. So that may give you a little insight into what is going on.


Over the next few days things will start to become clearer and emotions will start to run high. At this time we are trying to make sure that family is there with her and that until she starts asking for other visitors, we keep it to family only. There will be plenty of time for your love and support in the weeks and months to come and we genuinely appreciate all of your concern, thoughts, prayers, donations and just plain friendship to Rachel and our family.


As of today Hope is high.


Thank you so much for everything I will be in touch!

Natalie