<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=10VhTQ_0lMxH1B800" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=10VhTQ_0lMxH1B800" width="1280" height="720" ><iframe height="315" src="https://embed.insideedition.com/video-embed/video_iframe_player/41da46ae-f586-4842-a2db-54895027728f" width="100%"></iframe> She's the young woman whose wheelchair was pushed down a staircase by a college student. Now, she is talking to Inside Edition about that night, andthe man who shoved herwheelchair. "It was really hurtful and disrespectful, and just kind of heartbreaking," says Sydney Bennes of the incident. "I need this. I need this chair." <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> The 22-year-old had both ofher legs were amputated two years ago following a car crash. She was in her favorite bar, Sullivan's Pub in Erie, <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/tag/pennsylvania" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Pennsylvania </a> , when her wheelchair was damaged as a result of the actions of Carson Briere, the son of NHL player-turned-executiveDanny Briere. Moments before the incident, Sydney andher friends were enjoying a few drinks. Sydney then had to use the restroom, and called over her friend, who also happens to be the security guard at Sullivan's, to help her out. She lefther wheelchair atthe top of the stairs, and tucked it away in the corner while her friend carried her down the two flights of stairs to the restroom. Then, as she started to return to her friends, she saw her damaged wheelchair at the bottom of the stairs. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> "All that kept going through my mind was, 'this was an accident. I really hope somebody just accidentally bumped it down the stairs somehow,'" Sydneytells Inside Edition's Alison Hall. It was not an accident however, and the barstaff quickly identified the culprit. After reviewing <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/tag/security-cameras" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> security footage </a> , Carson and his friends were kickedout of the bar. Carson did get a chance before he lefttoapologize to Sydney, but she says that his attempt fell flat. "Carson was told to come and apologize to me before they kicked him out, and the apology was quite insincere," Sydney says. "People were saying, 'Oh, he's acting like a child, Heis acting like a child.'" She then adds: "No child would throw a wheelchair down the staircase." <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Carson later issued a public apology as did his father, and Sydney says he has reached out to apologize to her personallyin the wake of the incident. Meanwhile, a bulk of the cash donated via a GoFundMe that was created for Sydney will be going to others in need she says, having already raised over $8,000. Sydneyis also hoping to raise something even more important than money though —awareness. "I'd rather take this and turn it into a learning experience for everybody, you know?" Sydney says."I'd rather make people more aware of the stuff that disabled people have to go through." She then explains: "We just want a little bit of help a little bit, a little bit of understanding." <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h2> Related Stories </h2><iframe height="315" src="https://embed.insideedition.com/video-embed/video_iframe_player/5889a382-3de6-4c3f-8edf-3ac721c3de64" width="100%"></iframe></div></body>

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Sydney Bennes was in her favorite bar, Sullivan's Pub in Erie, Pennsylvania, when her wheelchair was damaged by Caron Briere, the son of NHL player-turned-executive Danny Briere.