A Korean student attending New York University (NYU) was left paralyzed from the waist down after armed carjackers crashed into his Uber in South Philadelphia last month.
NYU Stern School’s finance major Junoh Kim, 23, was less than a month into his summer analyst role at New York City-based M&A adviser Klema Capital when the carjackers, fleeing police, rammed into his Uber near the University of Pennsylvania on June 23.
“This tragic incident has left him with significant injuries, including severe spinal cord damage,” a GoFundMe page organized by his loved ones read. “Junoh is currently paralyzed in his lower body from waist down and has limited use of his hands. The extent to his recovery is uncertain, but we will remain hopeful.”
According to the page, since the accident, Junoh has undergone two critical surgeries and is going through a rehabilitation program.
Kim was visiting friends in Philadelphia at the time of the crash, his family said. They added that he is familiar with the city as he attended the University of Pennsylvania’s summer program in 2019 while he was in high school.
The GoFundMe fundraiser has raised $105,941, surpassing its $100,000 goal as of 2 p.m. on July 12. According to the organizers, all donations will be used for Kim’s medical bills, rehab costs, support services, and home mobility modifications.
The New York Post reported that the tragic event began around 3 a.m. when four masked men in a dark SUV carjacked a 2022 BMW X7 at gunpoint on the 4900 block of Baltimore Street, citing a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department.
The carjackers stopped to refuel, crossed a median strip, and sped onto I-76 before losing control of the vehicle, according to police.
The BMW then collided with Kim’s Uber near the intersection of the 3800 block of Spruce Street and hit a tree, police said.
Four men from the stolen vehicle were arrested: two 15-year-olds, one 16-year-old, and 30-year-old Antoinne Patton of Philadelphia.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
