Former “American Idol’’ contestant John Stevens (inset) says he was hit by a van while he was out jogging, and suffered a fractured skull, broken arm, and deafness in his right ear, among other injuries. The accident happened in Chelsea at 7:10 p.m. June 20. Police said Stevens was wearing headphones while jogging when he was struck on Broadway near Library Street, and the driver is not being charged (the accident didn’t occur in a crosswalk, and a witness said the van was not speeding).
On Saturday, Stevens wrote on Facebook that he was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital and his parents took him back to Buffalo to recuperate.
“Thank you to everyone who has been calling, texting and messaging,’’ Stevens said in the June 25 Facebook post. “Early this week I was hit by a van while out for a run and suffered a fractured skull and dislocated and broken arm. Among other injuries and disorders I’m dealing with, it appears I will have some, if not total deafness in my right ear. The staff at Mass General were above and beyond anything I could’ve ever asked for. My parents have taken me back to buffalo for a couple weeks to heal and recover from the accident since I won’t be able to work. Thank you very much for all of the well wishes and prayers. It truly means a lot to me.’’
Stevens appeared on the third season of “American Idol,’’ and went on to graduate from Berklee College of Music in 2009. He currently performs with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and the John Stevens Band.
