Fran Barnes Forsyth News 2/10/20 hit and run
FRAN BARNES, FORSYTH NEWS, 2-10-20 - HIT & RUN News Article
CRITICALLY INJURED LOCAL METRO ATLANTA & FORSYTH COUNTY REAL ESTATE AGENT/BROKER, CUMMING GA
On the evening of February 10, 2020, tragedy struck for long time metro Atlanta/ S. Forsyth Realtor, Fran Barnes, who many of you may know personally or professionally. She has been the on-site agent for numerous subdivisions across metro Atlanta for 24 years and currently an Associate Broker with Maximum One Executive Realtors in Alpharetta GA.
Fran was taking dinner to her 85 year- old homebound mother, who lives close to her, and was traveling on Atlanta Hwy./ Hwy 9, on this rainy night when she was hit head on by an impaired driver that left her critically injured. In a split second, her life was forever changed.
The driver had been drinking and fled the scene of the accident prior to the police arriving all while Fran lay trapped in her 2019 vehicle bleeding from compound injuries and waiting to be extracted by local Fire and Rescue and EMS. Injuries required she be transported to a trauma hospital where she underwent three surgeries in four days and remained hospitalized for 3 weeks. Her right foot, ankle, right arm and both hands have plates, screws, and rods holding bones together that were snapped in half on impact in this horrific collision. The Doctors say she will have some permanent disabilities including nerve damage and pain, as a result from her injuries. Her right
foot and ankle will require
additional surgeries over the next
year. Her right wrist and arm will
require a second surgery in early
April. She learned on 3/19/20 from her surgeon that there is a 50%
chance that her foot may be
amputated. 
The driver, believed to be undocumented, was driving an 18 year- old Ford Explorer that belonged to someone else and had minimal insurance coverage of 25K and their car insurance is refusing to pay. Six arrest warrants have been issued for the driver, identified by the police as 37 year old Aaron Balderrama-Velazquez including felony hit and run, although he has not been apprehended as of yet. All of these uncontrollable circumstances do not help Fran’s situation as her medical bills which include the ambulance, ER and hospital, operating room, radiology, testing, anesthesia, multiple surgeries, coupled with follow up doctor visits and care are approaching nearly Half a Million Dollars.
Fran unfortunately did not have medical insurance coverage at the time of the accident and is now facing this tremendous debt along with many more expenses in her future. She is in immediate need of a chair lift at her residence, which costs over 12K, to access all BR’s, Baths for showering and laundry. Additionally, she needs home health for daily care, occupational and physical therapy, and help to pay monthly living expenses since her surgeon says it will be a year and a half before she can walk, drive. or work again.
Please take a second and ask yourself, what if this happened to you or someone you love? Please open your heart and help Fran by giving as much as you are able today and throughout her year long journey to help her in this crucial time.
We thank you very much for your financial gift as it will be used for her care now and in the months ahead. She has a year+ long journey of surgeries and recovery. Please share this link with your friends, co-workers, and family members for donating and continue to keep Fran in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Thank you and God Bless!
