Tom Brady's father says his son hopes injured man recovers swiftly

Rodrigues suffered critical injuries, including a broken back, his sister said.

Rodrigues is undergoing surgery today after a series of surgeries Thursday. His sister also faulted the media for paying too much attention to Brady -- who was uninjured -- and not enough to her sibling.

“Why? Because we’re poor, we don’t have money, because Tom Brady is famous,” she said. The sister asked that she not be identified to avoid publicizing the case any further.

Rodrigues's 21-year-old son, Ludgero, was cited in the accident with running a red light and causing the crash. Ludgero Rodrigues has a lengthy driving record, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Boston police said Ludgero was driving the family’s 1997 Mercury Villager minivan on Commonwealth Avenue at around 6:30 a.m. Thursday when he ran a red light and smashed into Brady’s Audi S8, which was crossing Commonwealth Avenue at the intersection of Gloucester Street.

Brady practiced at Gillette Stadium hours afterward. Later Thursday he signed a new multimillion-dollar contract.

At the time of the crash, Rodrigues's sister, said Rodrigues was heading to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Brighton for treatment for a back injury. He had been lying in the back of the van when the crash occurred, a situation that worsened his injuries.

“His son was driving because he had a very bad back problem,” the sister said.

She said Ludgero swears he did not run the red light. He told police he had a green light. The sister argued that the media and authorities sympathized with Brady.

“Nobody talks about Tom Brady because he’s a rich guy, and we’re poor,” she said. “My brother is in very bad condition. We are upset. Leave the family alone because we are in pain.”