The father of an American tourist who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run in downtown Montreal last month says he can't believe the perpetrator is still in hiding and is hoping he will face justice.
Zachary Zelinsky, 30, has been in hospital since June 24 after getting hit by a motorist in an outdoor parking lot on St. Laurent Boulevard near de Maisonneuve.
His father Mark said his son took his first steps this week but still has memory and recognition problems and has no concept of time or space.
"I couldn't help think how unnecessary this was, to take my beautiful son's brains and make scrambled eggs of it," said Zelinsky in an interview with CJAD 800 News from his home in Florida.
Zelinsky said the moment when he arrived at the hospital was painful.
"I stood in the ICU looking at my son. I walked in, he was catatonic. I'm looking over the great city of Montreal, thinking where is this guy at and here's my son. What's the rest of his life going to be like now? Nobody can answer that right now," said Zelinsky.
Zelinksy said it'll be a long road to recovery and they still don't know if the rehab will take place here or at home in Florida. Zelinsky added that the trips to and fro are impacting his job and finances.
A friend of Zachary Zelinsky has set up a GoFundMe page to try to help out the family.
Sun Youth is offering a $3000 reward via an anonymous donor for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run driver.
Police say the car is a black, four-door Infiniti G37 made between 2009 and 2013 with fog lights and chrome-finish five-spoke rims.
Mark Zelinsky said he has nothing but praise for the people who helped his son that night and the police investigating but he can't say the same for the motorist and is sending that person a message.
"You're going to wake up one day, you're going to be sad and alone and you're always going to wonder what happened to the guy I injured so badly," said Zelinsky.