Local News

Family Speaks On Phila. Park Casino Accident

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― For the first time, the family of a man critically injured in a crash at Philadelphia Park Casino is spoke out and they hope their story in the accident's aftermath will save some other family from going through the same anguish.

75-year-old Jordan Siegelman was hit by an out of control car at Philadelphia Park in Bensalem on January 18th.

Jordan has been in critical condition and on life support since the accident.

"My dad is one in a million. He really is. He's a very strong man and I think the accident would have killed anyone else," victim's daughter Brenda Siegelman said.

Brenda's father had been pinned under the car for 40 minutes and is now paralyzed from the chest down, has a twisted spine and several broken bones. He is not stable enough for surgery.

Brenda said just a year ago her father took care of his brother who had a stroke. That illness sparked a family conversation about life support.

"My father had told me verbally, and my cousin that he would not want to have his heart restarted or to live in that kind of condition," Brenda said.

But her father never got a living will where his wishes were made legal. Now Brenda intends to go to court to become his legal guardian but that could take some time.

"They're saying it would take up to a full month," Brenda said," I think that anything could happen in a month and I would hate for his wishes not to be carried out."

To make sure your last wishes are carried out experts said you need a living will.

"Anyone could be diagnosed with a terminal illness or have a catastrophic accident and be in a situation where a living will would be useful," Attorney Arlene Glenn Simolike said.

Experts said anyone over the age of 21 should probably consider getting a living will because they could avoid a potentially lengthy and expensive legal battle.

Meanwhile, the accident involving Jordan Siegelman remains under investigation.

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