BLUF: My oldest nephew, Ryan, was involved in a grave motorcycle accident, that has left him with unimaginable injuries. Below is his sobering story from his parents & younger brother. Our family appreciates your prayers & support.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at approximately 1:30 PM EST, Ryan was involved in a serious motorcycle accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury. He was traveling northbound to his house from class, as he is a full time Nutrition Sciences student at West Virginia University, when an SUV traveling southbound entered his lane attempting to make a left turn taking away Ryan’s right of way. Ryan and the SUV collided resulting in a head on collision. Ryan flipped over the handle bars and came to rest, head first, some distance from the crash scene.

We are unsure if Ryan’s iPhone crash detection called 911 or a bystander called. Thankfully a witness to the accident advised others assisting to not remove his helmet, which is a decision that ultimately saved his life. Morgantown EMT’s arrived quickly according to reports and he was rushed a few minutes away to Ruby Memorial Hospital. He came in as a critical care emergency and was immediately rushed into emergency brain surgery. Once Ryan’s helmet was removed, the bleeding and swelling in his brain needed relief. The right side of Ryan’s skull needed to be removed to allow the swelling in the brain to dissipate.

He successfully made it through surgery and was placed in the Neuro Critical Care Unit of Ruby Memorial. Ryan was placed on a ventilator as he could not breathe on his own. Additionally, drains were placed in his brain to continue to drain and relieve the pressure from the swelling.

In December 2024, Ryan asked for a brand new helmet for his birthday. As we are not motorcycle riders, he explained he wanted the strength of a carbon fiber helmet for added protection. While expensive, we understood, like good tires, they are critical for safety. As it turned out, the helmet saved his life. The carbon fiber was completely intact and not cracked at all. While he was still injured through the severe impact, the helmet did its intended job and prevented a much worse outcome. When not working at GNC, or in class, he enjoys riding his motorcycle on West Virginia’s “Country Roads.”

Ryan lives with his younger brother, an Accounting and Finance major at WVU, and dog in their Morgantown townhome. Ryan is a God fearing man and understands the power of prayer. Please include Ryan in your thoughts and prayers as he has a very long road to, hopefully, a full recovery.

Kip, Megan & Vinny Lusby