Two students who were hit by a motor vehicle in September have returned to class after missing most of the fall 2008 semester. The pair, Kellsye Pitsenbarger and Amanda Tyus, both 21, are slowly returning to full health after sustaining numerous injuries.
The two were walking home along Progress Street in the early hours of Sept. 6, 2008, when they were hit by a motor vehicle. During the crash, Tyus was thrown onto the car's hood, which lofted her through a chain link fence before the car stopped after hitting a tree.
The two suffered major injuries as a result of the crash. Jan Pitsenbarger, Kellsye's mother, noted Kellsye's recovery was a trying period.
"It was a tough time. She still has some healing left to do," Jan said.
Kellsye, who sustained head and leg injuries in the crash, is still having trouble getting to classes.
"I can't walk long distances or periods of time without major pain," Kellsye said.
Kellsye obtained a handicap-parking permit, allowing her to park closer to her classes.
"Virginia Tech has been very helpful with accommodating me," Kellsye said.
Tyus suffered a broken pelvis in the accident and needed her jaw wired shut along with surgery on her injured leg. Tyus was on crutches until Dec. 5.
Joe Tyus, Amanda's father, said that his daughter was getting ready to get back to Blacksburg as soon as possible.
"She wanted to come back," Joe said. "All we were waiting on was the release from her doctors." Despite her return to campus, Amanda is not done with her treatment. She will meet with an orthopedist around the middle of March. Though Amanda's treatment is winding down, her family still receives bills for her treatment.
"The bills are still coming in to us," Joe Tyus said. Both Pitsenbarger and Tyus have medical insurance.
Beyond her physical injuries, the accident and her subsequent time-off has had a major effect on Pitsenbarger's plans after graduation. Pitsenbarger, who was preparing to graduate in April 2009, has seen her graduation date pushed back to December 2009.
"I'm behind an entire year of my life," Kellsye said.
She originally planned on attending graduate school, but has instead decided to look into the job market following graduation. Despite a long recovery time, Kellsye has kept a positive outlook.
"I've been told it will hurt before it gets better," she said.
Tyus and Pitsenbarger, human nutrition, foods and exercise majors, have decided to share an apartment together.
Tyus and Pitsenbarger now wait as the driver of the car that hit them, Ryan Williams Wresch, goes to court. Wresch was charged at the scene with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. Wresch is scheduled to appear next in front of a grand jury April 22.
Kellsye was anxious about the upcoming trial.
"It makes you think 'Wow, it happened to me,'" Pitsenbarger said. "It hits you when you're in court looking at the guy who did it."