Montclair family raises money to keep teenager on life support

MONTCLAIR, Calif. (KABC) -- A Montclair family is raising money to keep a teenager on life support after he was critically injured in a car crash.

Alan Sanchez, 17, has been on life support since he was hurt in a car crash on April 15.

His family has kept Alan on life support because they believe he can recover even though doctors have stated he is brain dead.

But the family claims video shows Alan reacting after his mother asked him to move his arm.

"When we told the doctor so we can get a second opinion, he pretty much said, 'Those are reflexes.' But a person who is brain dead isn't going to follow commands," Alan's sister Elsa Sanchez said.

Friends and family members held a car wash in Montclair on Sunday to help raise money for Alan's medical expenses.

"We're here to support because we know his family needs help and we just want him to get better," relative Marco Gomez said.

Alan's family said the hospital is making a difficult situation even worse and that they have no intentions of taking him off life support.

"They consider him brain dead. We want the public to be aware that the doctors haven't even showed support, like OK, 'Let me see the videos, let me investigate with another evaluation,'" Elsa Sanchez said.

The hospital released the following statement Sunday:

"While the hospital cannot discuss specifics on this unfortunate case due to patient confidentiality, we believe that LAC+USC staff have given medically appropriate care. We are openly communicating and working with the family in the most compassionate way possible given their tragedy."

The Sanchez family said they were grateful for the outpouring of support showed by the community through Sunday's car wash.