Columbus police are seeking witnesses to a seemingly random attack that left a man with severe head trauma and facial fractures.

It's unclear why another man knocked Robert Seed, 63, unconscious Saturday evening alongside East Cooke Road in North Linden, said Detective Deryl Kowalski of the assault squad.

Seed has regained consciousness, but can't recall the attack or what led to it.

"He's lucky to be alive," said Kowalski.

Police are requesting help from neighborhood residents and passing motorists who saw the incident.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, about 6 feet tall with brown hair.

The attack occurred at about 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of East Cooke Road, just a couple blocks from Seed's home. For unknown reasons, both men pulled over their vehicles in the residential area and began talking, a witness told police. It appeared to be a calm, normal conversation on the roadside.

After a few minutes, the suspect punched Seed once. He fell and hit his head. The suspect then got into a white, four-door sedan and drove west on East Cooke Road, leaving Seed injured and unconscious in the street.

The witness called an ambulance.

The suspect's motive is unknown. None of Seed's belongings was missing, and the pair's initial demeanor didn't seem to suggest road rage, the witness said. Both vehicles were headed east before they stopped.

The suspect will likely be charged with felonious assault, Kowalski said.

Seed was at Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University in stable condition as of Sunday evening. His condition was originally life-threatening, but he has improved.

Seed has worked as a community outreach coordinator for the Keep Columbus Beautiful program for many years.

Anyone with information about the assault can call Kowalski at 614-645-4189 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

awidmanneese@dispatch.com

@AlissaWidman