Greeley man recovering in hospital after hit-and-run motorcycle crash
GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) — A Greeley man is recovering in the hospital a week after the father of two was hit by a truck while riding his motorcycle near Highway 85.
The driver of the truck didn't stop.
"I've never been so terrified in my life," said Brandon McHaffie. "I honestly thought that was it."
It's hard for him to relive what he calls the "scare of his life." He told FOX31 he was heading to work around 5:20 am on Sept. 10 at the intersection of 22nd Street and Highway 85 when he was struck by a black Chevy Tahoe.
"I had a green light and a car just pulled out into my lane and by then I was in the intersection. So, I put on my blinker, went into the merge lane they should have gone into," said McHaffie.
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He says the truck then went into the merge lane and slammed on its brakes.
"I just locked up the brakes on the motorcycle because I didn't want to go through the back window," McHaffie said. "I ended up going underneath the vehicle and I know I did because I felt their tire on my chest."
When he looked up, he noticed the vehicle involved left the scene.
"There were three vehicles behind me that saw it happen and nobody stopped," said McHaffie. "It was at least three light cycles before anyone stopped to help me."
Eventually, he sought out help at a nearby gas station before collapsing. A good Samaritan witnessed it and called 911. It's something McHaffie is thankful for.
"The family dropped off a care package to me," McHaffie said with tears in his eyes. "Soon as I read the card, their phone numbers — I called them immediately and said thanks. If he hadn't stopped, I don't know how long I would have been there. My phone flew off my motorcycle I had no way to contact anybody and it seemed like no one cared."
He has spent a week in the hospital recovering.
"Shattered collarbone, four broken ribs that had to be replaced. I lost all the feeling in my right arm and really bad road rash on my legs," he said.
McHaffie now hopes the person responsible is found.
"That person in that fraction of 10 seconds, he took so much away from me and my family. My joy, my transportation and my income," said McHaffie. "I don't understand how anybody could do that. And just live with it."
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FOX31 reached out to Greeley Police to see if there are any updates in this case. We have not heard back. A GoFundMe has been set up for McHaffie's growing medical costs.
"It's a difference when it comes to a car accident when someone actually has protection around them then being hit by a motorcycle or bicycle or walking across the street," said McHaffie. "It's nothing to protect you. It's just you vs the car. To not even be able to check if that person is OK, I don't understand how anybody could do that and live with theirselves."
