Councilmember Eddie Neals continues rehabilitation, may miss meetings

So far the driver of the white van has yet to be apprehended.

Neal is currently walking albeit slowly with the aid of a cane. He did admit that he set aside the cane and walked without it recently. “I want to get back to work,” he said. “It’s coming along real well.”

The first-term councilmember underwent treatment and surgery at the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno immediately following the accident. He told The Leader he has four screws and four rods in his back and he doesn’t expect them to come out.

Neal said he’s missed the last three council meetings and expects to miss a couple more before returning to work.

He also said it’s possible, depending on the importance of a particular council action, he could listen in and possibly vote from his bedside. Such a set up would not be unprecedented. Councilmember Willard Rodarmel, who suffered a serious motorcycle accident a few years ago, participated in a similar vote from his bedside as he recuperated from his injuries.