Lake Ronkonkoma father, 44, fights to live after Medford DWAI accident

A Lake Ronkonkoma father is fighting for his life after being struck by an allegedly impaired driver in Medford last week — and his family is pleading for help as medical bills mount.

Tim Clark, 44, a skilled mason and the sole provider for his wife, Cassandra, and their 7‑year‑old daughter, Briella, suffered traumatic injuries when he was hit by a 2024 Hyundai Kona while crossing Express Drive South near Exit 64 just after midnight on Sunday, Suffolk County police said.

“He suffered devastating injuries,” said his brother‑in‑law Ben Borowsky, who launched a GoFundMe for the family. “His ribs were cracked. He had an emergency craniotomy due to brain swelling. He has had multiple brain bleeds. The doctors are keeping him stable… for now.”

The crash left Clark unable to work — and doctors have warned that he may never return to the physically demanding trade that has supported his family, Borowski said.

“All I could hear my sister say was, ‘How am I going to feed my daughter? Pay rent?’” Borowsky wrote. “Tim is one of the most hardworking and honest men you’ll ever meet. He built his life brick by brick, literally.”

Police said the driver, Tia Gardner, 26, of Mastic, was charged with driving while ability impaired. She pleaded not guilty in First District Court in Central Islip to a DWAI (combined drugs/alcohol) charge and was released without bail. She is due back in court on Sept. 9.

Meanwhile, Clark’s father‑in‑law, Mel Gevron, said the family is bracing for more surgeries and an uncertain recovery.

“To state that Tim is in a severe life‑threatening condition is to understate the magnitude of what is happening,” Gevron wrote on the GoFundMe page.

As of Thursday, the GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $18,000 from 160 donations to help the Clark family manage rent, groceries and mounting medical expenses.

Borowsky said the family has always been quick to help others — and now they are the ones in need.

“Every act of kindness will help lift this crushing burden and give Tim the chance to heal without the fear of financial ruin hanging over his family,” he said.

_{Top photos: GoFundMe}