Darren Achtezhn has been riding motorcycles for 15 years. One summer afternoon while riding his Honda GL 1500 home from work, his worst nightmare came true. He was involved in an accident.
Achtezhn, the director of food service at Seton Hill University (SHU), was driving home in Madison, Penn. when he drove up a hill while another driver was making a left had turn.
By Jeremy Barrick
Staff Writer
Darren Achtezhn has been riding motorcycles for 15 years. One summer afternoon while riding his Honda GL 1500 home from work, his worst nightmare came true. He was involved in an accident.
Achtezhn, the director of food service at Seton Hill University (SHU), was driving home in Madison, Penn. when he drove up a hill while another driver was making a left had turn.
He could do nothing except brace himself for the impact. He ended up hitting the A-post of the other person’s vehicle, leaving an 18-foot skid mark behind.
“I flew over the top of the car. It seemed like the fall was soft. As I lay there, conscious, looking down the yellow stripes of the road, my body felt okay,” said Achtezhn.
Achtezhn, an assistant fire chief for Station 18 in Madison, was then loaded into the back of an ambulance by his own crew members. He was rushed to Jeannette Hospital and then transported to UPMC in Pittsburgh. He ended up with a fractured C-2 vertebrae, which is located on the back of the neck, and three bruises on his upper right arm.
Nineteen hours from the time of impact, Achtezhn was back in his living room. Doctor’s orders were to wear a Miami J (M.J.) Collar for six weeks and to stay still. He is still in physical therapy for another four weeks.
Cleveland Steward, a resident of Greensburg who recently purchased a motorcycle said “I fear a motorcycle accident. There are so many people on the road who just do not pay attention. Especially to cyclists.”
“My son was killed in a motorcycle accident so motorcycle safety is a big concern of mine,” said Carole Ann Hall, a resident of Derry. “The accident was the other driver’s fault and nothing will bring my son back. Now that person has to live with that the rest of their life.”
When asked if he would ever get back on a motorcycle again, Achtezhn said: “I would get back on a motorcycle, just not anytime soon.”