On Sunday, August 26, Nick Hogan, who co-stars in VH1's Hogan Knows Best, lost control of the car he was driving and subsequently crashed into a palm tree in Clearwater, Florida.  Although Hogan was released from the hospital the following day, his passenger and friend, U.S. Marine John Graziano, remains in serious condition.

According to grandmother Catherine, Graziano's father called from the hospital distraught and almost incoherent.  He told her that Graziano, who came back from Iraq last year, may have suffered some brain damage.

"He said it doesn't look good," Catherine Graziano she told the Tampa Tribune in a phone interview.  "He was very incoherent."

"To come home from Iraq and for this to happen," she said before ending the conversation with the newspaper.

A resident of 1225 Curlew Road in Dunedin, Graziano was reportedly on the passenger of the Toyota Supra driven by Hogan.  The car “inexplicably” left Court Street on Sunday at 8pm and hit a tree in the median, wrecking the car on impact.

"Everything that happened last night was because of excessive speed," Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said Monday morning.  "When the car hit, it largely exploded or disintegrated."

Shelor also said that no charges have been filed against Hogan.

At present, Graziano lies in critical condition at Bayfront Medical Center.  Hogan's mother, Linda, who also appears in Hogan Knows Best, has issued a statement, saying her son is keen on seeing his friend recuperate.

"Nick is currently at the hospital with John and his family,'' Linda said.  "His sole concern is for the well-being of his friend.  On behalf of my family, we ask that your thoughts and prayers be with John and his loved ones."

On his Myspace homepage, Nick Hogan expressed his gratitude for the people who have lent their support.

“I want to thank everyone who has sent their support to me.  Right now I would like to ask all of you to focus your prayers on my friend John,” the 17-year-old Hogan Knows Best co-star said.

This is not the first time Nick Hogan has been involved in a sports car accident.  Last September, the 2001 Lamborghini Diablo VT he was driving caught fire, but he was able to get out of the car before it burst into flames.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Tampa Tribune, National Ledger
(Image Courtesy of TMZ)