Community welcomes home crash victim

A Brentwood man critically injured in a June 27 crash in front of City Hall was released from the hospital last week and celebrated with co-workers, first-responders, family and friends at a picnic in Castle Rock Park.

Mark Tomaszewski, 51, suffered head trauma, serious internal injuries and multiple broken bones when he was hit head-on by an alleged drunk driver who witnesses say was texting at the time of the crash.

A smiling Tomaszewski, who doesn’t remember anything of the crash, said he has been “blown away” by the “unbelievable” community support following the crash.

“He is making a remarkable recovery,” says his brother, John. “He just wasn’t going to give in. Mark just keeps going.”

Tomaszewski, a surgical tech at the Sequoia Surgical Center in Walnut Creek, was headed east on Clayton Road about 5:40 p.m. on June 27, when a Toyota Corolla driven by Jessica Mercurio, 21, crossed over the median and hit him head-on. Witnesses say she had been drinking at the Clayton Club. Toxicology reports show her blood alcohol level at more than three times the legal limit.

According to sources close to the case, Mercurio spent some time in a residential alcohol treatment facility after the crash. She is scheduled for arraignment in Superior Court on Dec. 9 at 8:30 a.m. on charges of felony DUI causing serious injury. She faces up to eight years in prison.