Friends and family of a pedestrian badly injured in an apparent road rage incident in Ballston are seeking help covering steep medical bills.
As of this morning (Tuesday), a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $15,000 to support Nick Battista. The personal trainer at the Onelife Fitness in Ballston Quarter was struck by a driver while he crossed the street near the intersection of N. Wakefield Street and N. Glebe Street last Thursday.
Battista, a “beloved trainer and a genuinely kind person,” suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs and other serious injuries, but does not have health insurance because he was working part-time, according to fundraiser organizers.
“He needs our help,” the GoFundMe page reads. “The medical bills from his injuries will be expensive to say the least, and the road ahead will be challenging. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in helping Nick recover.”
Battista was one of two people struck during the incident, which happened around 7:15 p.m.
NEW: Two pedestrians reported struck a short time ago near N. Glebe and Washington Boulevard in Arlington County. Early reports indicate the striking vehicle fled the area. @ArlingtonVaPD and @ArlingtonVaFD are handling. Some traffic shut down in the area. @ARLnowDOTcom… pic.twitter.com/emgcyBa8yl
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) December 19, 2025
Two drivers had been traveling on I-66 when they became involved in a verbal dispute, police said. After both came to a stop in Ballston, one man exited his vehicle and engaged the other man, who was still behind the wheel of his vehicle.
The driver then accelerated, striking the other man involved in the dispute, then as he fled he also struck Battista, who had been in the crosswalk near SER Restaurant, according to police.
Battista told WJLA that he was struck while he had the right of way.
“The driver turned directly into [the other man] and hit him and took his car door off,” Battista said. “I tried to get out of the way, and I failed, and [the car] hit me in the hip as I tried to dodge it.”
Though the vehicle, identified as a Jeep with D.C. tags, has been recovered, the driver remains at large.
“The impact left Nick with four broken ribs on his right side requiring surgery, eight broken ribs on his left, a collapsed and punctured lung, a broken sacrum, a bruised liver, a broken T5, and deep cuts needing stitches along with a lot of road rash,” the GoFundMe page reads.
Battista is doing everything he can to “return to the life he loves.”
The fundraiser is hoping to generate $20,000, with the proceeds going to pay Battista’s medical bills.
