Perry Tole, the 69-year-old truck driver injured in an altercation with former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez, is “thankful to be alive” and recovering at home, according to his attorneys. The update came Tuesday as Tole’s legal team publicly addressed the incident for the first time, detailing the extent of his injuries and the emotional toll the event has taken.The case unfolds against a backdrop of both civil and criminal proceedings. Tole has filed a lawsuit against Sanchez and Fox, while Sanchez himself faces a felony charge and multiple misdemeanors in Indiana. The incident has drawn significant attention due to Sanchez’s high profile as a sports analyst for Fox, and the severity of Tole’s injuries raises questions about accountability and potential long-term impacts on the victim’s life.
Attorney Erik May described Tole’s condition, noting visible and significant injuries. “You can see from the pictures that he’s got an enormous wound, cut on his face,” May told ABC News, specifying the laceration affected Tole’s jaw, mouth, and tongue.
May further explained the ongoing effects of the injury. “The scarring that he has and is gonna have, it affects his speech right now,” he saeid. “Obviously, he’s in a lot of pain, there’s a lot of swelling… Mentally, what he and his wife are going through has been considerable. He’s just really shaken up.”
Adding to the personal impact, attorney Eddie Reichart revealed that Tole will be unable to attend his son’s wedding this weekend due to his injuries and recovery. The civil case will proceed through the Indiana court system alongside the criminal prosecution of Sanchez.