Last summer, three teens were involved in a Marietta car crash on Trickum Road near Netherstone Drive. As Ryan Aschenback, 18, was driving his 2006 Volvo S40 traveling with his two friends, Christopher Heitzman and Tyler Seaman, both 18 years old and from Marietta, he crossed over the double-yellow lines.
The three teens were on their way to a local Taco Mac around 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday evening when their car collided with a 1998 Lexus GS400 driven by 52-year-old Joanne Green of Roswell.
Sadly, Aschenback died of his injuries, the two other teens in the Volvo were injured, and the driver of the Lexus was also injured. Green and Seaman were treated and released for their injuries at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. However, Heitzman was air-lifted to Grady Memorial Hospital with critical injuries.
Heitzman spent months at Shepherd Center recovering from his injuries. He recently came home; however, he is still in the process of recovering from his brain injury. On March 12, he threw out the first pitch of the season for Lassister High’s varsity baseball team, the team for which he used to play.
Randy Heitzman, the father of the injured youth, said, “The biggest issues that we have right now with the brain injury is just reprogramming himself and rewiring the nerves to function correctly.” It’s been a struggle for him to eat; however, he has made progress. His father said that just a few months ago he wasn’t able to get out of bed, and now he is throwing a baseball—progress. In Heitzman’s honor, the baseball players embroidered his number, 17, on their hats.
Georgia brain-injury lawyer Shane Smith continues to wish Christopher Heitzman well in his recovery.