ARCANUM - Life has changed for 19-year-old Trevor Bates of Arcanum. The Greenville High School graduate returned home Oct. 3 after a life-threatening crash cost him the loss of one of his legs.

On Sept. 27, Bates had just left class at Sinclair Community College on his motorcycle. He was stopped at a stoplight on Webster Street in Harrison Township when a green Pontiac made a turn, at a high rate of speed, from Needmore Road and smashed into him, crushing his left leg.

The driver that hit Trevor fled the scene and got into a van. According to the Bates family, police know the identity of the driver and are currently searching for their whereabouts.

Fortunately, paramedics that were in the area for training were able to get Trevor the medical assistance he needed quickly.

“I am so thankful they were at the scene. Trevor may have bled to death otherwise,” said Jennie Bates, Trevor’s mother.

She had to make the decision to allow surgeons to do the amputation on his leg. Doctors removed the leg just a few inches above the knee.

“His leg was just too mangled to save. I told them to take the leg, I’ll keep the kid,” Jennie said.

Trevor has worked at Schultz Motors in Darke County as an automotive mechanic for nearly two years. He was on the honor roll and named Student of the Year in the Auto Tech program at Greenville High School earlier this year. He and the Green Wave Auto Tech team won first place at the Ohio Skills USA competition on Apr. 28 in Columbus.

Trevor said he is in quite a bit of pain, but is looking forward to getting his prosthetic leg and moving on with his life.

“I just want to get all this prosthetic stuff figured out,” Trevor said. “I’m used to working and going to school. I’m ready to get back out there again.”

Trevor is currently attending Sinclair Community College in Dayton on a partial scholarship for the Auto Tech GM ASEP program. However, cars are not his only passion… he loves baseball, too. He has played the game all of his life and planned to tryout for the Dayton Dragons and Cincinnati Reds this coming spring.

“I still plan to tryout,” Trevor concluded.

For now Trevor is recovering at home with his mom and dad, James Bates and his three siblings.

“He [Trevor] is taking it well. We can’t change what happened, so all we can do is move forward,” Jennie said. “His school is working with us and is understanding about the circumstances.”

The Bates family is in need of donations from the community to assist with medical bills that insurance won’t cover and expenses to help Trevor get his prosthesis.

Donations to help Trevor and his family can be made at any Chase Bank (deposit your donation in Trevor Bates account) or make a secure online transaction at www.gofundme.com/trevorbates