Friends Rally To Support St. Pete Man Who Lost Legs In Crash

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Friends of a St. Petersburg father of three who lost both of his legs in a motorcycle accident Jan. 16 have set up a GoFundMe campaign on his behalf.

Brandon Niles was ejected from his motorcycle after hitting the back of a Misubishi Galant that cut him off on Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park Wednesday night.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper who witnessed the crash is being credited with saving Niles' life. He quickly applied tourniquets to Niles' legs to prevent Niles from dying of blood loss before paramedics arrived.

Niles remains in intensive care at Bayfront Medical Center where his is listed as stable. His family is now trying to come to grips with his life-altering injuries and the accompanying medical expenses.

Niles is in his last semester of school, studying drafting at St. Petersburg College. He works as a server at a St. Petersburg restaurant to support his family. He met his girlfriend, Meghan Andrews, in 2013 and immediately embraced Andrews' daughter as his own. They now also have two young sons together.

Andrews said she found out about the accident when Niles himself called her at 10:25 p.m. from the accident scene.

"He was calm and conscious and advised me he had been in an accident and was about to be transported to Bayfront," she said. "He said he had lost his leg and would probably lose his other and that he loved the kids, and hung up."

Niles is originally from Jacksonville, graduating from Bishop Kenny High School in 2005.

"I had so many classes with Brandon at Bishop Kenny," said fellow graduate Ashley Ruiz. "We knew we could always count on him to crack a joke when class was boring, and I remember him always having a smile on his face walking through the hallway. My heart is with his children and I pray he continues to fight."

Friends describe Niles as kind, humble and devoted to his children.

On his Facebook page, Niles lists his favorite quotes as: "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" and "Keep faith. God has a plan for everything He does and wills."

Andrews said she appreciates the outpouring of support for Niles.

"At this point, we are just happy he is alive and stable," she said, adding that she and her children are just beginning to understand how much their lives have suddenly changed. "This will be a long journey."

GoFundMe organizer Leah Bujan is hoping to raise $20,000 for the family. In two days, 142 people have contributed $8,145 to the fund.

Images via Meghan Andrews

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