Former Holmdel Athlete in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Car

The family of Rutgers University student Tim McDonnell, 20, a former football and basketball player at Holmdel, is grateful for an outpouring of prayers and support after McDonnell was struck by a car early Saturday morning, leaving him in critical condition.

A 30-year-old Somerset man was driving the vehicle that struck McDonnell while he was crossing Easton Avenue in New Brunswick at approximately 2:16 a.m., according to police. McDonnell is currently at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He underwent emergency surgery at about 6 a.m. on Saturday, according to his father, and remains in critical condition.

"If you're a parent, it's everybody's worst nightmare,'' said his father, also named Tim. "The Rutgers students and Holmdel students, they have been amazing. There's a vigil every day all day, with students there at the hospital from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m."

McDonnell's younger brother, Matt, is a senior on the Holmdel football team, and the high school students have shown support as well. The football players are all heading up to the hospital on Thursday, and the soccer team wrote McDonnell's name on their spikes in a 3-0 win over Manasquan on Tuesday.

"It's an incredible show of emotion and support,'' his father said. "The stuff that's going on, you can't make it up. It's just unbelievable. In the beginning, we were a little overwhelmed with it all. All the kids have stepped up to the plate. Every little bit helps."

A mass to pray for McDonnell's healing is being held on Thursday at 3 p.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in New Brunswick. A Facebook page, "Prayers for Timmy," has also been set up for peopele to leave their prayers and well wishes and follow his progress.

"I am overwhelmed by your love and affection for my boy,'' his mother, Clare, wrote on Facebook.