BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Brandon Luevano's life was coming together.
He landed his first job out of college as the athletic director at Inca Elementary School in Buckeye and moved into his own apartment.
But on the evening of Nov. 7, Luevano nearly lost his life while riding his motorcycle home from work.
"It was two cops standing at the end of my porch at 10 p.m. asking for his mom," said Mat York, Leuvano's stepfather.
York said a driver failed to yield and struck Luevano on his motorcycle near Perryville Road and the I-10. Brandon was taken to Abrazo Hospital in Goodyear in critical condition.
“He’s got a broken nose, a broken jaw; He just got out of a four-and-a-half hour surgery [Wednesday], he’s got five plates in his head, York said. "He’s got a broken sternum, a broken pelvis, his C-6 in his neck was fractured, so no paralysis which is good.”
Luevano also suffered a list of serious internal injuries and remains in the ICU eight days after the crash, away from his 7-year-old daughter.
"She's a brave, smart little girl," York said. "She will get on the phone because she is not allowed back there, in ICU, but she will get on the phone and we will play her saying a little prayer for daddy. Sometimes trying to comfort us and how a seven-year-old does that is beyond me."
Luevano's parents said his recovery would be long and painful. They have set up a GoFundMe which has raised more than $12,000.
"The last thing that he needs to worry about is financially, losing his apartment and whatever bills that he has," York said.
The Buckeye Police Department told 12News the crash is still being investigated. The driver of the other vehicle was contacted at the scene. Police said it is still unclear whether speed or impairment were factors in the crash.
“He has severe anxiety so I can’t imagine having severe anxiety and waking up with your jaw shut and not knowing what happened or what world you are in,” York said.
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