SLO man who suffered serious head injury while celebrating Halloween is out of hospital
A 21-year-old San Luis Obispo man who suffered a serious head injury after some playful roughhousing on Oct. 28 was released from Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and is now rehabilitating at a Fresno transitional care facility.
Matthew Papaleo was released from Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center about a week ago, said Ron Yukelson, the hospital’s spokesman.
Papaleo had been in a medically-induced coma as he recovered from two brain surgeries.
Charmaine Beth, branch manager at Union Bank in San Luis Obispo where Papaleo worked, said that Union Bank has set up a donation account for Papaleo to help pay medical bills. A GoFundMe account has also been established.
On Oct. 28, Papaleo went to a Halloween costume party at Tap It Brewing Co. with friends. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what occurred the night when Papaleo was injured in a roughhousing incident, according to spokesman Tony Cipolla.
Two of three witnesses who spoke with the Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on the grounds of Tap It Brewing, while a third said it occurred down the street, Cipolla said. All three witnesses gave different versions of the incident, though each of the three indicated it was playful in nature.
Cipolla said Friday that the investigation is ongoing and there are no new updates.
Nick Wilson: 805-781-7922, @NickWilsonTrib
To donate
Mathew Papaleo’s family has opened a donation account with Union Bank in San Luis Obispo. Those wishing to donate can do so at any Union Bank branch. Checks may be made out to “Mathew Papaleo Medical Fund.” To contribute to a GoFundMe account set up for him, go to www.gofundme.com/mathew-mateo-papaleo.
This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 7:34 PM with the headline "SLO man who suffered serious head injury while celebrating Halloween is out of hospital."