Brewster crash brings early end to American adventure

July 23--BREWSTER -- Dreams of traveling the country have been cut short for a J-1 student who was seriously injured when she was struck by a car earlier this month.

Tamara Coroi and fellow J-1 student Crina Gurin were on their way to their summer jobs at Nauset Farms in Orleans on July 8 when they were hit on Main Street in Brewster, causing their moped to crash onto the curb.

Frank Barbato, general manager of Nauset Farms, said he learned after the crash that Gurin, the moped operator, had a cut on her leg, but Coroi's foot was crushed when it got stuck under the moped.

Coroi was transferred from Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She underwent a five-hour surgery July 10 and is back on Cape Cod to recuperate.

"They put in a lot of pins and screws in her foot," said Barbato, who visited Coroi at the hospital.

Coroi probably will remain on the Cape until the end of September or October to recover and receive physical therapy, Barbato said. Gurin has since returned to work.

Coroi is staying at the house she was renting in Brewster before the crash. Intrax, a cultural exchange and educational company that coordinated her trip here, had insurance for Coroi and was able to pay her medical bills, Barbato said. She declined an interview.

Barbato said members of the farm crew check on her daily.

"She is scared and so far from home," he told the farm's Facebook followers. "Her parents ... I can't imagine what they are going through."

The J-1 visa promotes cultural and educational exchange, and students from foreign universities may work seasonal or temporary jobs and travel in the U.S.

Barbato was surprised by the outpouring of support after he posted on Facebook about the incident. On his desk sat piles of cards and gifts to Coroi from people who never even met her.

"It's very heartwarming," he said.

Both women are from Moldova in Eastern Europe and had come over to help the farm get through the summer. Typically, workers use the money made during the summer to travel across the country. Now, that won't be possible for Coroi.

Barbato said he was sitting with Coroi in the hospital when she told him, "At least I got to see Boston -- or part of it."

The Brewster police report says a Honda Fit was traveling eastbound on Route 6A at around noon July 8 when the driver saw the moped on the right-hand side of the road headed in the same direction.

The driver told police she believed she gave the moped ample room, but as she moved back into the middle of the lane she did not realize she had not yet passed it, causing the moped to hit the vehicle's rear right-side door.

Gurin lost control of the moped and it hit the curb, the report states.

Brewster Fire Department medical responders told police the two women had moderate road rash and abrasions on their legs. Gurin had minor injuries and Coroi had a fracture. They were both brought to Cape Cod Hospital.

The driver was cited for improper passing, according to the police report.

Barbato said he hoped people would hear about the incident and slow down and be more patient on the roads.

"Maybe some good can come out of the accident," he said.

-- Follow Beth Treffeisen on Twitter: @BTreffeisenCCT.

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