From Valleynewslive · · 2m
19-year-old loses leg in high-speed crash
A Fargo motorcyclist's life changed in seconds when a fleeing vehicle hit him at 120 mph. His mother shares their journey ahead.
In brief
A Fargo motorcyclist's life changed in seconds when a fleeing vehicle hit him at 120 mph. His mother shares their journey ahead. Isaac Putney lost his left leg and has a shattered arm, but his family says he's a miracle because he suffered no head trauma. Recovery will take years, but his mother is determined to…
Motorcycle hit at 120 mph
A 19-year-old Fargo man was critically injured Sunday when a Chrysler 300 fleeing police at high speed slammed into his motorcycle on 15th Avenue South.
Severe injuries change everything
Isaac Putney lost his left leg below the knee and has a severely shattered arm. His mother says his life will never be the same at just 19 years old.
“Isaac's life will never be the same. He's 19 years old; he has to re-learn how to do stuff.”
A mother's world turns upside down
Jennifer Borah was at her cousin's house when her son called about the accident. She couldn't even get to her car and just started walking to the hospital.
“I was just getting ready for bed. And then my son called me and said there's an accident, and then the hospital called right away.”
Life was just beginning
Putney, who works in concrete construction, had moved into his first apartment with his girlfriend just 10 days before the crash. His girlfriend Emma Peightal has stayed by his side.
“He's grateful to be alive, and it could've been a lot worse.”
No head trauma, a miracle
Despite the severity of his injuries, doctors found no trauma to Putney's head. His mother calls it a miracle that he wasn't hit there.
“He's a miracle. The fact that his head was not hit was unbelievable.”
Shattered arm, functional knee
Doctors are evaluating damage to his arm, which has bones shattered up to the elbow. His knee is functional, and surgery is planned to finalize the amputation.
“His arm is casted, the bones are kind of shattered in there, it is up to the elbow.”
Recovery takes a year or two
Friends with prosthetics told Borah that independence takes one to two years. Her son's main goal is to go home and rebuild his life.
“For a good year you will not be independent, but after a year or two you can be totally independent.”
Community raises over 20 thousand
A GoFundMe titled Support Isaac Putney's Recovery raised over 20,000 dollars from 355 donors. Funds go toward medical expenses, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and lost income.
“It's overwhelming, it's completely overwhelming. I'm beyond grateful.”
Driver faces charges, mother seeks justice
Elijah Baumann, 24, of Moorhead, Minnesota was driving the Chrysler. Formal charges have been forwarded to the Cass County State's Attorney's Office.
“I just want justice. I hope that we get justice. I hope my son gets justice.”
The one thing
Isaac Putney lost his left leg and has a shattered arm, but his family says he's a miracle because he suffered no head trauma. Recovery will take years, but his mother is determined to support him through it.
