After the Accident: Catching Up with Randy Collins

Tolland resident Randy Collins was ready to celebrate his twentieth year working as a UPS driver this July. But as he was driving along his newest UPS route in town, his life took a dramatic turn, two days short of the milestone.

Collins was driving on Old Post Road .

Tolland residents and first responders rushed to his aid, and Collins was taken to Hartford Hospital via LifeStar, where his long healing process began.

"All I'm focusing on is getting better," Collins said. He is currently recovering at a rehabilitation facility.

"My progress has been good, but there are still more surgeries to come."

Collins has come a long way since his accident on July 16. He said that his injuries were mostly confined to his legs, but that the damage was extensive.

"The doctors said I looked like a shark attack victim," he recalled. Collins said that after many surgeries, he will be able to keep both of his legs and will be able to walk eventually. 

A New Sense of Community

While Collins has many physical obstacles to overcome due to the accident, he said that the outpouring of support from the community has been a gift.

Friends, family, people he met in the community as a UPS driver and many more have been stopping by daily to visit Collins and have been reaching out online, as can be seen on the more than 70 comments readers .

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"I feel much more connected to the town," he said. He and his family have lived in Tolland for five years. "Now, people beep whenever they drive by the house," he joked.

And Collins said that he'll never be able to forget those neighbors who rushed from their houses to help him on the day of the accident.

"I'd like to say thank you and give them a big hug," Collins said. "There aren't enough words."

He also thanked Tolland's medical first responders, not only for their work, but for their kindness and professionalism on the scene.

"They are top-notch," he said. "I felt completely safe in their hands the whole time."

Moving Towards Recovery

Collins said that he sees subtle improvements in his condition every day. While the process is slow, he said that he has been able to use the extra time to reconnect with his musical roots. 

Collins played guitar in Hartford for a number of years and released a CD on a non-profit record label to benefit charity.

While job and family commitments have made it difficult for him to play as often as he had in the past, Collins said that his guitar, which sits in a stand by his bed, is an integral part of his recovery.

"Right now, when my legs start to hurt a lot, playing takes my mind out of it, and my pain starts to go away," he said.

He hopes to make more time for music in the future, he added.

Otherwise, Collins said his main goal is simply to heal.

"I hope to go home soon, be with my family and continue to get better."

A fundraiser for Randy Collins is scheduled for Sept. 29 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 999 Tolland Stage Road. There will be food, music and great raffle prizes.