Colton Barfield’s life changed forever in less than a week.

  The 17-year-old was out for a Saturday drive March 23 when his vehicle broke down. A friend came to help and as the two of them stood on the side of the road – on a clear day with the truck’s flashers turned on – another motorist slammed into the truck, pinning Colton between two vehicles and crushing his legs.

  Six days later, his left leg was amputated above the knee and his right leg had pins and rods holding it together.

  It all happened on Hwy. 42 just south of its intersection with Hwy. 155, according to the police report. The driver was identified as Josteen Arocho, 26, of Loganville. There was no alcohol involved. The road surface was dry and the weather was clear, according to the report. The time of the incident was listed as 2:29 in the afternoon.

  The cause, in a nutshell, was distracted driving. The police report stated, “The driver of vehicle 1 [Arocho] stated he was not paying attention and rear-ended vehicle 2.”

  Colton was attaching straps between his friend’s vehicle and his own truck so it could be towed away. When his truck was rear-ended, it was slammed forward into the other vehicle and Colton was caught between them, the police report indicated.

  According to accounts from friends, Colton arrived at Grady Memorial Hospital with a break in the femur (thigh bone) of his right leg. On the left leg, both the tibia and fibula (lower bones) below his knee were crushed with an open wound and exposed bones. There were no wounds from the hips up.

  He was in surgery for more than eight hours. Doctors were able to stabilize the breaks and reestablish blood flow to the left leg by reconnecting one of the three veins in his left leg. Damage to the muscles, veins, and bones were severe with approximately a four-inch gap in the bones below his knee.

  After a few days in the intensive care unit, he had two other surgeries to stabilize the breaks and clean up the wounds. Later in the week doctors gave the news that his left leg could not be saved and would have to be taken mid-thigh. This procedure was done March 29.

  Colton was released April 1 from Grady Memorial Hospital. He is continuing with outpatient therapy to strengthen his right leg and to prepare his body for the prosthetic he will receive in about a month after his left thigh heals from the amputation. He is also learning to live in his home with a wheelchair and start doing the normal everyday things we all take for granted but in a very different way.

  A Facebook page titled “Prayers for Colton Barfield” was created for friends and loved ones to leave encouraging messages and follow his progress. A GoFundMe page was also set up to help with what will certainly be massive financial expenses in the days to come. Both of his parents have been by his side since this ordeal began and will continue to do so. A family friend noted in a social media update that neither parent is working right now because of the need to be with their son.

Arocho was on the job at the time of the incident, driving a vehicle owned by O’Reilly Auto Parts, according to an attorney retained by Colton’s family. A lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of the family.