Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Crash victim's mom defends Hogan family

Wrestler Hulk Hogan and his family have been visiting the man hurt when Hogan’s teen son crashed a car in Florida, it was reported Tuesday.
|
|
 
  
Published: Sept. 4, 2007 at 10:41 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Wrestler Hulk Hogan and his family have been visiting the man hurt when Hogan’s teen son crashed a car in Florida, it was reported Tuesday.

John Graziano, a 22-year-old Marine who recently returned home from Iraq, was critically injured when Hogan's 17-year-old son, Nick Bollea, lost control of the car he was driving and struck a tree. Graziano, who was a passenger in the vehicle, remains hospitalized. Bollea was treated and released for serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Graziano’s mother said her son would be angry about the way the stars of the VH1 reality show, "Hogan Knows Best," are being "torn apart" in the media, The Tampa Tribune reported.

Bay News 9 said it received an exclusive e-mail from Debbie Graziano defending the Hogans, whose real last name is Bollea, and thanking the community for its thoughts and prayers.

"My son John has been very close to the Bollea family for over six years," the e-mail said. "Since Day 1 of this nightmare, they have been with us physically, emotionally, mentally and financially."

Clearwater police continue to investigate the accident, but have said it involved excessive speed.

Topics: Hulk Hogan, John Graziano, Nick Bollea
© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Entertainment News Stories
1 of 29
Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery
View Caption
U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc
fark
Jail in South Carolina to allow alcohol, but only if you believe in Jesus
Arizona spends $125 million per year on 13,000 K-12 students who don't exist. Can I haz Arizona...
You'd probably squawk, too, if some government busybody named your kids "Archie" and "Juliette"
Fugitive penguin recaptured miles from zoo after awkward stand off
SeaWorld's new Manta Rollercoaster stalled on its second day of operation; SeaWorld said not to...
For first time in 14 years, ugly assed baby meerkat born at Tulsa zoo. w/vid