The Overton Independent School District says that Cristian Rodriguez, a student and football player, was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Friday night, January 19, 2024. Rodriguez, affectionately known as "Macho," underwent surgery on Saturday in response to injuries sustained in the accident.
Overton High School Principal Jeff Hogg shared insights into Rodriguez's character, stating, "We call him Macho, that’s his nickname, everybody knows him by Macho, and he’s a great kid, I’ve known him since he was a freshman."
Concerns are currently focused on Rodriguez's lower back, but there is a positive update on his condition. Despite initial expectations of a longer duration, Rodriguez has been taken off his ventilator. Hogg mentioned, "We were worried about his feeling in his lower body, and that seemed to come back this morning, actually, they took him off a ventilator, we thought he was going to be on that for quite a few days."
In response to the incident, the Overton ISD community gathered for a meeting in the high school library at 5 p.m. on Sunday to offer prayers and create cards for Rodriguez. An update shared by Overton ISD from Rodriguez's family reported that he was able to move his feet after Sunday morning's surgery but has unfortunately lost the ability to feel or move anything below his waist.
The family's update mentioned that this loss of sensation and movement could be attributed to swelling, and medical professionals will continue daily assessments to monitor Rodriguez's progress.
