Sophomore recovers from Dec. car crash

By Molly Leaverton

Sophomore Braden Pivirotto remains in a rehabilitative facility at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose after sustaining serious head injuries from a car crash during winter break.

Though it was thought he only had a 58-percent chance of survival during his first night at the hospital, Pivirotto is expected to return to Santa Clara sometime next year.

"He is recovering remarkably well for someone injured as seriously as he was," said Pivirotto's mother, Gayle Purdy.

Pivirotto was seriously injured Dec. 12 when his car veered off of Interstate 80 near Kingvale, the California Highway Patrol said. Crash investigators said Pivirotto may have fallen asleep at the wheel, drove onto the freeway's median and crashed head-on into a tree while driving home from skiing.

Purdy spent the holidays with two family members in the hospital, her son and her husband, who suffers from colon cancer. Despite the horrors she has faced this holiday season, she remains hopeful and thankful for Pivirotto's recovery.

"People said how horrible for something like this to happen at Christmas time, but after all of the kindness and friendship that everyone has show us, I believe that this is Christmas spirit at its best," said Purdy.

Pivirotto was flown to Sutter Medical Center in Roseville following the crash. Passenger Erik Hawkins-Flasker, 19, was airlifted to Wastco Hospital in Reno, Nev.

Pivirotto suffered a fractured ankle and a dislocated hip as well as severe head trauma, Purdy said. He was placed in a medically induced coma and awoke two days before Christmas.

Hawkins-Flasker suffered a broken upper leg, fractured hip, broken arm and a broken eye socket, all on his left side. He regained consciousness that same night and is expected to make a full recovery after he heals from all of his surgeries.

In an e-mail update to Dunne Hall residents sent Jan. 4, Faculty Director Arthur Liebscher, S.J., confirmed that Pivirotto has begun his process of recovery and will now receive visitors.

Pivirotto is an active member of the Santa Clara community, both as a member of Sigma Pi fraternity and as a community facilitator in Dunne.

Sigma Pi President Michael Rhoads was "overwhelmed by the incredible response" the chapter had when they were informed about Pivirotto's accident.

"Everyone wanted to know what they could do to help," Rhoads said.

Pivirotto's residents in Dunne said they would miss having him as their CF.

"Life on the fifth floor won't be the same with out him," said freshman Maidere Sorhondo.

As the new quarter begins, Pivirotto's family encourages students, faculty and staff to continue to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

"Keep praying. All the prayers and well wishing, all of the positive energy has really made a significant difference," Purdy said.

Students that wish to visit Pivirotto should contact Liebscher at aliebscher@scu.edu or at (408) 554-4387.

Contact Molly Leaverton at (408) 554-4546 or mleaverton@scu.edu.