Wah Wong, 67, and his son Jason, 22, suffered extensive injuries when a driver in a Corvette drove up onto their driveway and pinned them against their own car just outside their Beacon Hill home. Wong's wife Salina also had minor injuries in the Dec. 12 crash, and has recovered. "It is a very devastating accident and [one that] no one really expected," she said. Wah Wong is the owner and chef of the Jade West Chinese restaurant, which has been in West Seattle for 22 years. On the door is posted a sign that the restaurant is closed for the time being. "He is a one man band, so he does everything himself," said Salina. Wah is enduring physical rehabilitation at the Leon Sullivan Health Care Center for several fractures, including his foot. But as bad as his injuries were, family members said Jason's were far worse. "My brother actually pushed my dad out the way," said Janet Wong. "And he tried to jump out of the way of the car that was coming... but it basically hit them from behind." Jason lost his left leg, and remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center. The driver, Rodney James, was arrested at the scene and faces vehicular assault charges. He was allegedly drunk at the time of the incident. The Wongs say they will not be able to reopen the restaurant until Wah literally gets back on his feet, and that may be at least "three to four months," said Salina. Meanwhile, several regular patrons of the tiny California Avenue restaurant have stopped by to write get-well-soon notes on the door.
"Thank you everybody [who] support me," said Wah. "Thank you very much."
When the incident happened the evening of Dec. 12, the Wongs were just getting home to Beacon Hill from a family vacation, they said. Wah and his son Jason were unloading luggage from the trunk when the driver hit them. The driver apparently made too wide a left turn onto Columbian Way and left the roadway, said Janet.
The Wongs said they have insurance, but expect to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. In response to community requests, the family has set up a donation fund at local Wells Fargo banks under the name of the restaurant.
"It’s just very close-knit community, and we appreciate very much all the support," said Salina.
SEATTLE-- The owners of a long-time local restaurant say they're devastated after an alleged drunk driver crashed into members of their family, resulting in surgeries and little way to pay for mounting hospital bills.
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