Walmart greeter, 92, eager to get back to work after injuries

OCEANSIDE, Calif., June 14 (UPI) -- A 92-year-old California man who spent four days in an intensive care unit after being struck by a car said he is eager to get back to work at Walmart.

Bernard Florack of Oceanside said he started working as a Walmart greeter in 1998 and had never been even one minute late for work until he was struck by a hit-and-run driver May 10 on his way to catch a bus to work, U-T San Diego reported Friday.

Florack suffered a cracked elbow, fractured ribs and bleeding in his brain in addition to bruises and a road rash. He was air-lifted to a trauma center in La Jolla, where he spent four days in the ICU and two weeks in rehab before being allowed to go home.

Florack said he is eager to get back to work.

"I love working. It keeps me living," Florack said. "I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I don't want to sit around and admire the scenery."

Adam Bower, store manager of the Walmart where Florack works, said the senior citizen is a model employee.

"People come in just to see Bernie," Bower said. "He's enriched the lives of not only the customers but also the associates who work here. Some younger associates don't have one-tenth of his work ethic, and he's absolutely friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. He's always got some news of the world to share every time I see him."