Injured freshman returns home
Posted on March 13, 2008
Freshman Bria Jahrling, a pedestrian who was severely injured by a car Jan. 29 on Bluestone Drive, has been released from therapy at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. She is now taking the rest of the semester off to recover at home in Maryland.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst announced Feb. 28 that charges will not be filed against 22-year-old Matthew N. Birzon, of Setauket, N.Y., who was identified as the driver who struck Jahrling.
Jahrling suffered head injuries after Birzon’s 2000 Audi sedan struck the dance major while she was on her way to ballet in Godwin Hall about 11 a.m.
Bystanders who assisted Jahrling at the scene said Birzon, a senior marketing major, had been on his way to class when the accident occurred.
The investigation into the accident concluded that Jahrling entered the crosswalk by Frederikson Hall in front of a bus that had pulled off on the shoulder. As she began crossing the street, Birzon, who was driving north on Bluestone, struck Jahrling as she emerged from the front of the bus.
“There was absolutely zero reaction time,” said Lt. Kurt Boshart of the Harrisonburg Police Department. “If you can imagine that setup with the bus and [Jahrling] coming across, there’s just absolutely no way to really see that.”
In a prepared statement, Garst said, “This is indeed a tragic incident and our hearts and prayers go out to Bria Jahrling and her family as we wish her a full recovery from her serious injuries.”
Following treatment at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Jahrling was moved on Feb. 8 to Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, where she continued to undergo therapy.
On March 5, Jahrling checked out of KKI and was able to return home.
Since the accident, Jahrling’s sister, Yara, has used a Web site though carepages.com (under the name “BriaJahrling”) to update family and friends on Bria’s progress.
On March 8 she reported that Jahrling’s first few days out of the hospital have been “excellent.”
“She has watched old dance recital videos, baked cookies (only halfway-just right!), has been eating fine, and generally doing very well with her readjustment out of the hospital.”
Correction: As originally published, Birzon was identified as a management major. He is actually a marketing major.
