Pierce County Mother Highlights Son’s Strength After DUI Accident
A Pierce County mother shares her son’s journey of resilience following a tragic motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver
Pierce County, Washington, DUI, Motorcycle Accident, Resilience, Family
Pierce County: A man is on the mend after a serious motorcycle accident caused by a suspected drunk driver. But his life has changed forever.
28-year-old David Rosencrans lost part of his leg in the crash. His mom, LeAnn, is understandably heartbroken as they try to process this awful situation.
LeAnn has been a rock for David, who doesn’t remember the accident or the days that followed. He’s currently recovering at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
“I thought my son was going to die, and I wasn’t there,” LeAnn said, tears in her eyes. She’s been by his side since Monday, even though she lives in Alaska.
David was first taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, but his injuries were so severe that he had to be moved to Harborview. He suffered a badly fractured leg and pelvis, three broken ribs, and a torn aorta. LeAnn is just relieved that those are the worst of his injuries.
“When I had to consent to amputate his leg to save his life, I was actually happy to do that because it meant he was going to live,” she shared, clearly emotional.
Through all this, LeAnn is so proud of how strong her son is being.
“I’m so impressed with him. He’s only 28, and now he has to live with a missing limb because someone chose to drive drunk,” she said, fighting back tears.
The last thing David remembers is flying back to Alaska for his brother’s wedding. Now, after three surgeries, he’ll have to learn to walk again with a prosthetic and adjust to a new normal.
LeAnn and David plan to be very involved in the legal proceedings when the case goes to court. She also believes we need to rethink how society views drinking, from the ads we see to using alcohol as a way to cope.
In Washington State, there are some new bills that could help prevent tragedies like David’s in the future.
One is “House Bill 2196,” which aims to lower the legal BAC limit from 0.08% to 0.05%.
Another is “Senate Bill 5032,” which would make a third DUI conviction a felony. It also seeks to change the threshold for a fourth DUI conviction to a felony, down from five.
Despite everything, LeAnn says David hasn’t lost his sense of humor. He’s still his sarcastic self. But she’s urging everyone to think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking.
Because it can change the lives of an entire family.