Injured Highway Worker Faces 10th Surgery to Repair Leg

In June 2009, highway traffic safety worker Dwayne Brazil was at work on the Dan Ryan Expressway when a he was hit by a SUV. The violent collision sent him 20 feet into the air, causing serious injuries to his leg and neck.

After several surgeries Dwayne is now able to walk with the aid of crutches, but he is hopeful that at some point his leg will grow strong enough so that he can walk unaided. The next step of his recovery is scheduled this week: Dwayne will undergo the 10th surgery on his leg. The procedure will be performed by MOR orthopaedic trauma surgeon Dr. Walter Virkus.

"The priority right now is the two inch hole in the shin bone," said Dr. Virkus. "We'll fill that with bone from his pelvis and that will heal to each side of his bone and make the bone solid."

In a WGN report by Angie Leventis Lourgos and Pat Curry, Dr. Virkus describes Mr. Brazil's leg injury and prognosis for his recovery.

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Arrest Made in April 2010

The media reporting by the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV of Dwayne Brazil's story led police to issue a nationwide warrant. As a result of the warrant, the man who is accused of slamming his SUV into Dwayne last summer was arrested on April 22.

This is good news for Dwayne Brazil, who is now walking again and hopes that his story will encourage nationwide warrants to be issued in traffic accidents like his. To view the update on the ongoing story, click on the link below.