Texas college student suffers ‘catastrophic’ burns after being struck by alleged drunk driver

A Texas college student suffered “catastrophic” burns after an alleged drunk driver struck him on his drive to campus, according to reports and authorities.

Aidan Poole, 19, was driving on I-27 to Texas Tech University when an alleged intoxicated driver, Thomas Rich, hit Poole’s car, sending it airborne, and causing his gas tank to explode and erupt into flames, according to multiple local outlets.

The fiery collision left Poole with severe second and third-degree burns, KVII reported.

Rich has since been arrested by the Hale County Sheriff’s Office and charged with intoxication assault, according to the outlet.

“You don’t ever want to hear your child cry and scream, and just seeing all of his burns is something you never want to see,” the victim’s mother, Kristi Poole, told the local publication.

“He looked at me and he was like, ‘Do you know if the Porsche people are okay or if they’re alive?’” Kristi recounted, astonished that her son was concerned for others’ well-being.

Aidan’s girlfriend, Jadzia, was at work when she learned about the harrowing crash.

“When I answered the phone, I could just hear everything in the back. I could hear sirens. I could hear Aidan in the back crying and freaking out. I could hear the wind and all the commotion. And I literally […] just went into complete shock,” she told the outlet.

Poole, a sophomore majoring in Physics, is now in a hospital burn unit with “severe and life-changing burns,” according to a GoFundMe for his medical costs.

He will undergo several surgeries to treat the “catastrophic injuries,” the statement said.

“Aidan is also experiencing significant trauma and PTSD from the crash,” according to the fundraiser.

The honors student was described as “selfless, tender-hearted, intelligent, and kind, with a witty sense of humor that draws people in.”

His family, who live outside of Lubbock, is now staying near the hospital and incurring “significant” expenses for relocating, Poole’s treatments, and replacing many of his belongings, which were destroyed in the crash.

The GoFundMe for Poole had raised over $40,000 of its $45,000 goal by Sunday night.

Kristi said she wants justice for her son.

“[The other driver] didn’t have to do this, but he needs to take responsibility for what he’s done. It shouldn’t have happened; there’s no reason for this to have happened,” his mother heartbreakingly told the outlet.