‘Don’t even feel human.’ Pierce County man faces recovery after hit-and-run
Galen Morris said he was left for dead over two weeks ago on a Kent roadway.
Morris, 46, was driving his motorcycle on Nov. 22 to his Lakewood home at around 12:40 a.m. after hosting karaoke at The Inn Between Pub. He turned onto 277th Street going downhill when a vehicle struck him from behind. Morris told The News Tribune he did not see any headlights behind him, and it struck him “just out of the blue.”
Police were dispatched at around 12:49 a.m. after Morris stated it was a hit-and-run, according to a Kent Police Department spokesperson. There are no known witnesses to the crash and no information on a driver. No arrests have been made.
Before it crashed, his motorcycle began to shake because the rear wheel was damaged, and Morris could not control the bike.
“I knew I was going to go down. It was a question of where at that point, providing myself the best outcome possible,” Morris said.
Morris said his head struck the ground about six times. During the fourth strike, he tried to pull his legs into his body, but they hit something, and it felt like his legs ripped apart. The injury caused Morris’ pelvis to shatter. He initially thought he was paralyzed, but then realized he could move his fingers and toes. Morris’ helmet and armored leather jacket prevented him from having any head or spinal injuries, he said.
Morris called 911 through a Bluetooth device in his helmet, though the first person he wanted to call was his girlfriend, Katie Castelli.
Castelli told The News Tribune that right before she got the call from Morris about the crash, she was asleep and had a dream of Morris telling her, “I’m OK.” She then woke up, and her phone began to ring with him on the other line.
Morris said while he was on the phone with 911, two people saw him and his bike on the side of the road and got 911 on the phone. They recognized Morris as they were at the bar where he was hosting karaoke.
“It felt really comforting knowing that somebody was there that knew who I was,” Morris said.
Police and medical aid were on scene in less than five minutes, Morris said. When medics took over and put him on the stretcher, he said he felt the worst pain of his life. He was taken to Harborview Medical Hospital. He had surgery about 30 hours later and stayed in the ICU for most of the 10 days he was hospitalized.
“With my pelvis when they did the surgery, about 30 hours after the accident, they had to bend my pelvis back into shape, and then they used big plates and screws to actually screw everything back together,” Morris said.
Castelli said she went straight to the hospital with some of their friends that night, and she stayed there every day until he was discharged.
After Morris was discharged, Castelli, their friends and colleagues helped set up the house for his recovery. Since Morris was going to be in a wheelchair, they set up a ramp for him. His friends also set up an electronic bed and anything else that would bring Morris comfort during his recovery.
“I’ve never felt so loved before in my life,” Morris said with tears in his eyes. “I guess, like the one good thing ... I’ve come to understand how much I matter.”
Morris and Castelli hoped that the driver who struck him would come forward, but that has not happened. They were told by police that the investigation had closed because there weren’t any direct witnesses and the area was rural.
“And we tried to do a public records request for the traffic cameras at the bottom of the hill, but they told us that those traffic cameras are live only, and they don’t record,” he said.
Morris said he understands the police department has a lot of cases and that its resources are limited, but it is difficult to deal with the “injustice” that someone could strike him with s vehicle and not face any consequences.
“They probably assumed that I died. I can’t imagine hitting someone like that and seeing what happened, and thinking somebody could live through it,” he said.
Recovery and financial burdens
It will take three to four months before Morris can put weight on his legs while using crutches. Until then, he will be bed-bound and in his wheelchair.
Other than his karaoke job, Morris is an HR specialist at the Bethel School District and has been on medical leave since the crash. He said the district has been supportive throughout his recovery.
Morris said he struggles to sit up in his wheelchair for a long period of time. The first night back home was difficult because they had to figure out how to transfer him from his car since he can barely put any weight on his right leg. He also has not been able to shower since the crash.
“It’s the little things you know, you just kind of don’t even feel human after a while,” he said.
Every day, Morris does physical therapy on his own in bed. He and Castelli said someone from the hospital was going to come to their house to help navigate the home after his discharge, but after continuing to reschedule, they ended up telling them that his insurance would not pay for it.
“So we’ve been just having to wing it as best we can,” Castelli said.
The crash has left Morris and Castelli with financial burdens with his insurance covering $25,000 of his medical bills, including the ambulance ride, surgery and ICU.
A GoFundMe was set up to support Morris while he recovers. Around $4,300 has been raised. Morris and Castelli have also received support through a Meal Train.
Castelli and Morris said their friends have planned to have a benefit concert at the Sand Bar on Marine View Drive on Dec. 20 in Tacoma to raise funds for his medical expenses. There will be live music from 7-11 p.m. Anyone who wants to support the cause is welcome.
“A lot of people have reached out to find out if we will get to make an appearance, but the discomfort and mobility limitations, I think, are not gonna allow us to get there,” Castelli said.
Towards the end of his recovery, Morris said his goal is to hike Teneriffe Falls for his birthday in July 2026. He said that was the first hike that he took Castelli three years ago.
They might have to adjust the hike so it is not very strenuous, he said. Their friends have vowed to join them if he is able to do it.
“Whenever I’m laying in bed, I’m constantly trying to work what I can, because I want to walk, and I want to walk faster than expected, so I’m going to do everything I can to do that,” he said.
