Pizza restaurant owner suffers brain damage in falling tree accident

The owner of a Twin Cities pizza restaurant chain has suffered severe damage to his brain after an accident involving a falling tree.

Brian Huttner, whose Pizza N' Pasta chain has three locations i n the southern Twin Cities metro, was injured on July 8 and he has remained unresponsive at a hospital since then.

A GoFundMe has been launched to "ease the financial burden" for his family, which states: "We are still clinging to hope and praying for a miracle!"

"Many wait by his bedside hoping he will recover. During this time, we specifically want to love on and support his 9-year-old son Aiden and, as Brian put it himself, his 'soulmate' Julie."

Huttner worked as a part-time firefighter at the Savage Fire Department for more than 10 years, and has has previously been recognized as the department's Firefighter of the Year.

The fundraiser has so far raised more than $7,000.