Published: June 30, 2009 02:25 pm      

Train kept a rollin’

It’s been said if you remember the 70s, you weren’t there. Larry Arney doesn’t remember a specific day in the 70s — June 11, 1979 — but he was definitely there and now thanks God he’s here.

The events of the day were erased by either the first or second locomotive that struck his vehicle and put him in a two-and-half-month coma.

With only a brief memory of the entire incident, Arney remembers thinking he could beat the freight train to his left at Clark Street railroad crossing in Effingham. Not realizing a passenger train was to his right, he went around the warning arms of the train crossing.

Hit first on his vehicle’s passenger side, Arney said it was “lucky” his vehicle was rotated 180 degrees before it was struck again on the passenger side from the opposite direction.

“In those days, everyone went around the railroad crossing gates in Effingham,” said Arney.

Transported from St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham to Mercy Hospital in Champaign, the extent of his head injuries had family, friends and doctors fearing the worst.

“Doctors told my parents I would be a vegetable,” said Arney.

With intensive therapy that regained his ability to walk and use of his right arm, life continued for the recent high school graduate.

After attending Lake Land College, Mattoon, and Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Arney has taught business at Dieterich High School for 22 years, along with the school’s network administrator.

In reality, Arney sees the event as leading to many positive attributes in his life.

“I was planning on going to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, but instead, I stayed closer to home for school,” said Arney. “I met my wife in college at Eastern and that probably wouldn’t have happened if the accident hadn’t occured.”

This ability to see the silver lining in difficult situations, along with a sense of humor, has served Arney well in dealing with the traumatic experience.

“I had a party recently to celebrate the anniversary of the wreck, which I know sounds kind of sick, but it was great to talk with people who had different memories of the accident,” said Arney. “I had a sheet cake made with pictures from the accident on it.”

Arney had been a high school graduate only 10 days when the accident occurred. His classmates rallied to his bedside. There were 10 to 20 friends and family in his hospital room during while day after day passed with Arney in a coma.

“I would wake up from time to time and think I was dreaming,” said Arney. “Then I would fall asleep and think I was awake.”

Appreciative of the support of friends and family, along with a strong belief God had a hand in his survival, the event still molds much of his approach to life.

“Life is to way too short to take anything too seriously,” said Arney. “Who knows? Maybe I’m still dreaming.”

Tony Huffman can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 135 or tony.huffman@effinghamdailynews.com