Emily Paine Carter

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Harrison Freund was having a good time back in New York City over spring break. But unfortunately, it turned into a literal break for the Salem High School sophomore.

Harrison, 15, and his parents David and Betsy Freund had moved from New York to Salem, Betsy's girlhood home. Harrison arrived in August 2005, so he could enter Salem High School as a freshman; he lived with Betsy's mom, Audrey Boggs. Betsy commuted for months, then she and David moved here in July 2006.

Recently, wrote Betsy in an e-mail, Harrison had won his first bicycling medal by placing third among juniors (under 18) in Charlottesville's Jefferson Cup Race.

He had "long anticipated" returning to New York to enter the Easter Sunday race, part of the New York Spring Series of bike races, Betsy wrote. So the family arose at 5 a.m. to take him to Central Park. And, she continued, despite the 23-degree wind chill Harrison performed very well: he came in sixth out of about 30 racers -- and was the only junior to finish.

But two days later on April 10, as he was cycling to Central Park to train, he was struck by a Chevy Tahoe sport utility vehicle. Betsy wrote, "Thank goodness for cellphones: I was at a design seminar when Harrison called me from the ambulance" headed for the New York-Presbyterian hospital emergency room.

Harrison thought he merely had "some cuts and scrapes," Betsy wrote. But X-rays revealed a broken left leg -- requiring a full leg cast (bright orange) -- and two broken fingers.

A cast on three fingers and his forearm prevented him from using crutches, so he has a wheelchair; he will probably be in it until the end of school. Even though the arm cast was just removed, his arm is not quite up to crutches.

Salem High -- and our community -- have been "wonderful and very supportive," Betsy wrote. The school loaned Harrison an elevator key, and "great" students push him through those long corridors. He's allowed to leave the wheelchair beside the nurse's office each afternoon, so the family doesn't have to lug it in and out of the car (they keep a second wheelchair at home).

She added that they are "extremely fortunate" that Harrison survived being struck by such a large vehicle, and that his injuries were not worse.

And because this happened over spring break, he missed only two days of school.

"Since he is young, healthy and strong," wrote Betsy, "we are anticipating a speedy and thorough recovery. In fact, Harrison looks forward to getting a new bicycle and getting back in the saddle!"

Attaboy! That's a true Salem Spartan.