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Photos Released Showing Severity Of Bollea Crash

Photo from the Clearwater Police Department

This photo depicting the aftermath of Nick Bollea’s car crash last August is among several hundred images released this morning by Clearwater Police.

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By Mark Douglas of News Channel 8

Published: March 12, 2008

Updated: 03/12/2008 07:28 pm

Clearwater police today released photographs of the August crash involving Nick Bollea, the son of former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.

Bollea and his passenger, John J. Graziano, were injured after Bollea's yellow Supra careened out of control and struck a palm tree in the median of four-lane Court Street, police said.

Bollea faces up to five years in prison for injuring Graziano, who suffered brain damage in the wreck.

These crime scene and victim photos depicting the aftermath of the crash are among several hundred images released this morning.

The pictures detail the severity of the impact.

Photos also show the severity of Graziano's head injuries. Those pictures are too graphic to show but indicate an inches-deep open gash in Graziano's forehead in the hours following the crash. Graziano is hospitalized at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa.

Clearwater police released the photos as a result of public records requests by The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8.

Last week, Bollea's attorney, Kevin Hayslett, released one of the photos, which he says shows that Bollea did not have bloodshot eyes after the accident. Hayslett says the photo helps prove that Bollea was not drinking before the crash as prosecutors allege.

At a news conference today, Bollea's defense lawyers also said the graphic photos of Graziano's head wound indicate that his head bounced off the frame of the car. They reasserted their contention that that would not have happened if Graziano had been wearing a seat belt.

In response, George Tragos, an attorney for Graziano, said, "That's hogwash."

Kim Kohn, another of Graziano's attorneys, said, "This is not like a broken leg. We're talking about years of rehab before we can even know where John's going to be."

The photos released today will be used as evidence by both sides when Bollea faces trial for reckless driving and causing an accident with serious bodily injury.

Prosecutors say Bollea was racing another vehicle before the crash and was traveling at least 69 mph - 39 mph over the speed limit - at the time of the wreck.

Bollea's attorney says his review of the evidence shows Bollea was not speeding or racing when he lost control of the car.

At today's news conference, lawyers for Graziano said that a coma is not an accurate description of Graziano's condition. They did not describe his condition any further.

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