PARKLAND, Fla. — A South Florida father is living with what he calls “unbearable uncertainty” as his oldest son fights for his life days after a deadly crash that killed four people and injured several others.

Bob Dietrich says his son Connor remains in critical condition at a Tampa-area hospital.

“We don’t know what the future is going to bring for Connor,” Dietrich said. “I have no idea what his prognosis is going to be.”

Connor suffered multiple skull fractures, a brain bleed and a broken shoulder.

Connor and his younger brother, Brandon, were standing outside a bar when a driver fleeing police plowed into a crowd, killing four people and injuring many others, including both brothers.

Brandon, Dietrich said, escaped with comparatively minor injuries.

“Brandon is doing good. He was banged up pretty good. But nothing broken, nothing serious.”

Connor remains on a respirator.

“He’s heavily sedated right now. And we anticipate him being in that condition for quite some time.”

The brothers are survivors of another tragedy. Both lived through the 2018 Parkland school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead.

“Surviving Stoneman Douglas was one crazy ordeal for these kids and what I had considered to be the darkest days of our lives as a family,” said Dietrich.

After high school, the brothers moved to Tampa. Dietrich believes their experience in Parkland may have helped Brandon respond amid the chaos of this latest tragedy.

“He’s my hero. The way he handled the aftermath of that accident.”

As Connor’s condition remains uncertain, the family is clinging to hope while bracing for difficult news.

“No matter how old your kids are, give them a hug. Hug them tight. Because your life changes in an instant.”(Bob Dietrich/sons injured in crash/32:43)

The driver accused of causing the crash appeared in court Thursday. Dietrich and his wife attended the hearing and say they want justice for the victims of what they describe as a horrific and senseless incident.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.