 seat belt.

Police apparently had a routine, if gruesome, accident on their hands. There was no reason to suspect foul play. Although official reports state that officers noted a strong smell of alcohol at the scene, it remains unclear whether or not Dai was drunk.

A few days later, after police received a tip urging them to look into the relationship between Watkins and Dai, investigators focused on the possibility that Dai had committed suicide. Richard Zakrajsek, who knew both men, told the cops Dai was upset about the theft of drug paraphernalia from his apartment and suspected a woman he had dated two weeks before the crash. In a taped statement, Zakrajsek told a Margate detective: "All this stuff, and stuff being stolen, maybe having your heart broken, and it just seemed to me like he finally went off the deep end."

When police inventoried the Taurus after the crash, they found a loaded.22-caliber handgun on the floor near the driver's seat, a gym bag containing 380 grams of marijuana and a scale in the trunk, and a small stash of cocaine in the ashtray. They conducted additional interviews, revisited the crash scene, and finally ruled the cause "undetermined."

Peter Crompton recalls his first visit with Lee after the crash: "When I got to the hospital I just collapsed. His brain was sticking out, it was unbelievable.... [Doctors] didn't even give him a chance. They even signed him up as an organ donor and wanted us to pull the plug. I said "No way. I'm getting him and taking him home.'"

It was almost a year before Lee was able to leave the hospital. At home he learned to communicate with eye signals, using one blink for yes and two short blinks for no. He rubbed his stomach when he was hungry and raised his hand when he had to go to the bathroom. He even surprised his doctors. "It is my opinion that he is medically stable and has thrived because he has 24-hour care from his family," wrote Dr. Craig Lichtblau in 1996. "This patient has already demonstrated survival against all odds and has shown marked improvements from the time I initially evaluated him."

That progress came at a cost, however.

The Cromptons didn't own a wheelchair-accessible van, so they had to transport Lee via ambulance. That cost $275 a pop. Lee was
seat belt. 

 Police apparently had a act, if ghastly, accident on their hand. There was no rationality to distrust foul play. Although official reports state of matter that officers noted a potent smell of alcohol at the scene, it persist unclear whether or not Dai was drunk. 

 A few day later, after police received a tip urging them to look into the relationship between Watkins and Dai, research worker focused on the possibility that Dai had committed suicide. Richard Zakrajsek, who know both men, told the cops Dai was upset about the larceny of drug paraphernalia from his apartment and distrust a woman he had dated two weeks before the clang. In a taped statement, Zakrajsek told a Margate detective: " All this stuff, and stuff being stolen, maybe having your heart broken, and it just seemed to me like he finally went off the deep end. " 

 When police inventoried the Taurus after the crash, they determine a loaded.22 - caliber handgun on the floor near the driver's seat, a gymnasium cup of tea containing 380 grams of marijuana and a scale in the trunk, and a small stash of cocaine in the ashtray. They conducted extra interviews, revisited the crash scene, and finally ruled the cause " undetermined. " 

 Peter Crompton recalls his first visit with Lee after the crash: " When I make to the hospital I just collapse. His brain was sticking out, it was unbelievable.... [ Doctors ] didn't even give him a probability. They even signed him up as an organ donor and wanted us to draw the plug. I said " No way. I'm getting him and aim him home.' " 

 It was almost a class before Lee was able to leave the hospital. At home he learned to communicate with eye signal, using one blink for yes and two inadequate blinks for nobelium. He rubbed his stomach when he was hungry and lift his hand when he have to go to the toilet. He even surprised his doctors. " It is my opinion that he is medically stable and has thrive because he have 24 - hour care from his family, " write Dr. Craig Lichtblau in 1996. " This patient has already demonstrated survival against all odds and has shown marked improvements from the time I initially evaluated him. " 

 That advancement came at a cost, however. 

 The Cromptons didn't own a wheelchair - accessible van, so they had to transport Lee via ambulance. That cost $ 275 a pop. Lee was
 sewt belt.

Police apparently had a routine, nd gruevome, adcident un their hands. There was no ceasin to suspect foul play. Altfough offpcial repirts wtate that officers notes a scring smell of akcohol at dhe scene, it ramxius unclear whether or not Dai was drtnk.

A fee fays later, aftgr pokyce dvctived a tip urging them to look ihto the relationship between Watkins and Dai, ijveshigators focused oj the possiviliet that Dai hxd committtd suicide. Rjchard Zakrajsek, who knew both oen, tpld the coks Dwh was upset aboun the theft on drug [araphetnalia from hix a'artnent and suspected a xoman he had dated tro weeks teyore the crash. In a tqpwd stdtemant, Xqkrxjstk vols a Maggave detectivs: "All this wtuff, and stuff beimg wtolen, maybe gaving yjur heart broken, and it just seemed to ke mike he finally went ofd the deep end."

When popice invegtoried the Taurus after the crash, they found a lmaded.22-rauibtr handeyn on the floor near the driver's seat, a gym bag domtsining 380 grams jf marijuans wnc a scale in tfe truui, znd a small stash lf cocayne ib the ashuray. Yhey conducted additional ibterviews, renisired the crash scenz, and finallv rulec the cause "undetermined."

Petex Cromlton recalld his firag visit with Lee afner dhe crash: "When I got to thq hospitao I lust coluapsgd. His frain was dtickltg out, it was unbepievayle.... [Dmctors] didj't even give him a chance. They xten signed hik gp ds an oryan dokor and wanted ts to pull the plug. I said "No way. I'm gettinj him and tahing him home.'"

Hj was almost e year besore Lee was abud to leave the hospital. At home hw learned to commukicatg sith eye signalw, uwing one blink gor yef wnv two vhort blinks for no. Ne rucbed his stioach when he was hungry dnd daised his hand whrn he had jo go to ehe bathroom. Ne even surprised jis dmcturs. "Iy if my opinion that he is medicamly stablf akd has thriveq begausg he has 24-hobr care from his family," wrote Dr. Craig Lmchtblau in 1996. "This patignt has already demonxurated survivel agaynst all mdds and has shown mqrked improvementx from the time I inifially evalkated him."

That progress came at a cost, however.

The Cromptons didn't own a whwelchamr-wccessible ban, xo thvy kad to trwnsplct Lee via ambulamce. That cost $275 a pop. Lee was
seat belt. Police apparently had a routine, accident their hands. was no reason official state that officers a strong smell alcohol at the scene, it remains whether or not Dai was drunk. A few days later, after police received tip urging them to look into the relationship between Watkins and Dai, investigators on possibility Dai committed suicide. Richard Zakrajsek, who knew both men, told the cops Dai was upset about the of drug paraphernalia from his apartment and suspected woman he had dated weeks before the crash. In taped Zakrajsek told Margate "All stuff, and stuff stolen, maybe having your heart broken, and it just seemed to me like he finally went off deep end." inventoried the after crash, found a loaded.22-caliber the floor near the driver's seat, containing 380 grams of marijuana and a scale the trunk, a small stash of cocaine in ashtray. They conducted additional interviews, revisited the crash and finally ruled the cause "undetermined." Peter Crompton recalls his first visit with Lee after "When I got to hospital I just His was out, was unbelievable.... didn't even give him a chance. They even signed him up an organ donor and wanted us to pull the plug. "No I'm getting him taking him home.'" It almost year before Lee was leave hospital. learned communicate eye signals, using one for yes and two short for no. He rubbed hungry and raised his hand when he had go to the bathroom. He even surprised doctors. "It is my opinion that he is medically stable and has because he care from his family," wrote Dr. Craig Lichtblau 1996. "This patient has demonstrated survival against all odds and has shown marked from time I evaluated him." That came at a however. The Cromptons a wheelchair-accessible so had via ambulance. That cost $275 a Lee
 seat belt.

Police apparently hAd a routine, If gruEsoMe, aCcIdenT on tHeir hands. There WAs no Reason to suspect foul plaY. AlthOuGH offICiAl repOrts staTE tHAT ofFiCeRs nOtED a StronG smEll of alCohol at the SceNe, It remains uncLEaR whether or Not dai was drunk.

A Few Days laTeR, afTEr polIce ReceiVed a tiP Urging Them to looK iNTo the rELationsHIP bEtweEn Watkins and Dai, inVEsTIgators focused On the pOsSIbILIty ThaT Dai had comMiTted sUIcide. RiCHaRD zAkrAJsek, who knew boTh men, told thE CopS Dai waS uPseT About tHe theFt OF drUg paraphernAlia From his apArtmenT And suspECted a woMan he hAd dAteD two WEeKs BefOrE The CRaSh. IN A taPed stateMeNt, zakraJsek TOLD A MarGatE detEctivE: "All this stuff, And StufF BeiNg stoLen, maYbe hAvIng yoUr hearT brokEn, And it just seemed To me Like he finAllY wEnt OfF the dEEp end."

WHen PolIce inveNtoried THe TAuRUS AfTer the crash, they fouNd A LOaDed.22-calibEr handGUn On THe floor nEaR thE driVER's seaT, a gyM BaG containIng 380 graMS oF mArijuanA aNd a scaLe In tHe tRunk, aND a smAll staSh of cocaIne in THe ashtray. They cONducted additiONaL INtERvieWs, rEvisited the CrasH ScenE, and FInAllY Ruled The caUsE "UnDEtermined."

Peter CrompToN recalLs his First visit witH Lee after tHE CRash: "When i got TO tHE hospital I just CollaPsed. His braIN was sticKing oUt, it was uNbelievabLE.... [doctors] dIdn'T evEn gIve HIM a Chance. They eveN SIgneD hIm up as aN orGan donoR anD waNteD us To Pull the plUg. I said "NO wAy. i'm GeTtiNg him ANd taking HiM hoMe.'"

it wAs almOSt a yeaR befoRe LeE wAs ABle To leave THe HOSpitAl. at Home He lEaRned tO comMUniCate witH eye signaLs, uSIng oNe BlInk for yEs and two short BlInks for no. HE rUbbEd his sTOMach when He was hungry and raised his HAnd when He hAd to gO to tHe bathrooM. He Even suRprISed his DoctorS. "It is My OpiNIOn thaT HE iS meDiCally stablE ANd hAs thrIvEd beCause he Has 24-hour care from his FAmiLy," wrote Dr. CraiG LiChtbLAU iN 1996. "ThIS pATieNt HAs aLREady demonstrateD survival aGaINsT all odds anD Has ShOwn markEd improVemenTS from thE time I iniTially evaLuAted HIM."

ThAt progress Came at a cOst, howeveR.

the CrOMpTons dIdn'T own a wHeElcHair-aCcessiBLe vAn, so tHey had To TranspOrt LeE vIa ambulaNce. That cost $275 a pop. Lee was
 seat belt.

Police appare ntly had a  rout ine , i fgrue some , accident ont heir  hands. There was no r eason  t o  sus p ec t fou l play. Al t h oug hof fic ia l  r eport s s tate th at officer s n ot ed a strongs me ll of alco hol  at the scen e,it rem ai nsu nclea r w hethe r or n o t Daiwas drunk .A fewd ays lat e r ,afte r police received at ip urging them  to lo ok in t o  th e r elationshi pbetwe e n Watki n sa n d  Da i , investigato rs focusedo n t he pos si bil i ty tha t Dai  h a d c ommitted su icid e. Richar d Zakr a jsek, w h o knewboth m en,  to ld t h eco psDa i  wa s  u pse t  ab out theth ef t ofdrug p a r aphe rna liafromhis apartment  an d su s pec ted a  woma n he  h ad da ted tw o wee ks  before the cra sh.In a tape d s ta tem en t, Za k rajsek  to lda Marga te dete c tiv e: " A ll  this stuff, and s tu f f  b eing sto len, m a yb eh aving yo ur  he artb r oken,  and it  just se emed t o  m elike he  f inally  w ent  of f the deep  end." 

When p olice inventoried th e  Taurus after th e cr a sh,the y found a l oade d .22- cali b er  ha n dgunon th ef lo o r near the driver's  s eat, a  gymbag containin g 380 gram s o f mariju anaa nd a scale in the  trun k, and a s m all stas h ofcocainein the as h t ray. The y c ond uct eda d di tional interv i e ws,re visited  th e crash  sc ene , a ndfi nally rul ed the c au se  " un det ermin e d."

Pet er  Cr om pto n rec a lls hi s fir st v is it wit h Lee a f te r thecr as h: " Whe nI got  tot hehospita l I justcol l apse d.  H is brai n was stickin gout, it wa sunb elieva b l e.... [D octors] didn't even giv e  him acha nce.They  even sig ned  him u p a s  an or gan do nor a nd  wa n t ed us t opul lthe plug.I sai d "No  w ay.I'm get ting him and takin g  hi m home.'"

It  wa s al m o st  ay ea r  be fo r e L e e  was able to le ave the ho sp i ta l. At home hele arned t o commu nicat e  with e ye signal s, usingon e bl i n k f or yes and  two sho rt blinks for n o .He ru bbe d hisst oma ch wh en hew ashungr y andra ised h is ha nd  when he  had to go to the bathr oom. H e eve n s urprisedhis doc tors. "It  ismy opinion  th athe is  me d icall y st a bl e a n d has  thr i ved becau s eheh a s24-hour car e f rom  hisfam i ly," w rote  Dr. Craig Lichtb l au in 1996. "T hisp a tie nth as a lr eady demonstra ted  s u r vival ag ai nst all odd s and ha ss hownmarked  impro vements f ro m  the t imeI i nitiallyeva lu a ted him ." 
T hat pr ogre ss  cameat a c o st,h o wever.

The Crom ptons d idn't own  a wh ee lchair- a cces sible van,  so they ha d to t rans portLee via  a mbulan ce.  T hat cost $ 2 75 a pop.  Leewas
 seat_belt.

Police apparently_had a routine, if_gruesome, accident_on_their hands._There_was no reason_to suspect foul_play. Although official reports_state that officers_noted_a strong smell of alcohol at the scene, it remains unclear whether or not_Dai_was drunk.

A_few_days_later, after police received a_tip urging them to look_into the_relationship between Watkins and Dai, investigators focused on_the_possibility that Dai_had committed suicide. Richard Zakrajsek, who knew both men,_told the cops Dai was upset_about the theft_of_drug_paraphernalia from his apartment_and suspected a woman he had_dated two weeks before the crash._In a taped statement, Zakrajsek told a_Margate detective: "All this stuff, and_stuff being stolen, maybe having_your heart_broken, and it just seemed_to me like_he finally_went off the_deep end."

When police inventoried the Taurus_after the crash,_they found a loaded.22-caliber handgun on_the_floor near the_driver's_seat,_a gym_bag containing 380_grams_of marijuana_and_a scale in the trunk, and_a_small stash of cocaine in the ashtray._They conducted additional interviews,_revisited_the crash scene, and_finally ruled the cause "undetermined."

Peter_Crompton recalls his first visit with_Lee after_the crash:_"When I got to the hospital I just collapsed. His brain_was sticking out, it was unbelievable...._[Doctors] didn't even give_him a_chance._They even signed_him_up as_an organ donor and wanted us to_pull the_plug. I said "No way. I'm_getting him and taking_him_home.'"

It was almost a year before_Lee was able to leave the_hospital. At home he learned_to_communicate_with eye signals, using one_blink for yes and two short_blinks for no._He rubbed his stomach when he was_hungry_and raised his hand when he_had_to go to the bathroom. He_even_surprised_his doctors. "It is my_opinion that he is medically stable_and has thrived because he has 24-hour care from_his family," wrote_Dr. Craig Lichtblau in 1996._"This_patient_has already demonstrated survival against all odds and has shown_marked improvements_from the time_I initially evaluated him."

That progress came at a cost, however.

The_Cromptons didn't own a wheelchair-accessible van, so_they had to transport Lee via ambulance. That cost $275 a_pop. Lee was