PSU Student Beaten Into Coma, Left For Dead

PORTLAND, OR — A Portland State University student was severely beaten and left for dead along a section of train tracks in Truckee, California, last Tuesday in what the student's family is calling a hate crime.

Amtrak authorities investigating the case have said there is no evidence 22-year-old Aaron Salazar's injuries "suggest criminal intent," but the man's family believes he was beaten into a coma and burned because he is gay.

Salazar was reportedly riding an Amtrak train back to Portland from Denver, Colorado, when he stopped for what should have only been a 10-hour layover during the 31-hour trip. He reportedly told his family over the phone that he planned to explore Sacramento during the layover, but he never made it.

A worker at the train station in Truckee reportedly found Salazar lying near the tracks on May 15.

Salazar sustained a broken pelvis, severe burns on his thighs, multiple brain injuries, and a damaged brain stem; he hasn't opened his eyes since he was found, according to a May 22 update on the GoFundMe.com page raising money for his medical expenses.

"Aaron has been trying to open his eyes recently and we are very optimistic," Austin Sailas wrote on GoFundMe.com. "Aaron is still healing from the burns, and has been fighting a fever but even still his progress is remarkable. Unfortunately as many know we have been fighting with the AMTRAK department for Answers and at this point we are expecting a very long, and expensive process and are ready to fight."

Doctor's have apparently told Salazar's family that the injuries are consistent with a beating, but no one has officially confirmed that's what happened. The Amtrak investigation is ongoing, and Salazar's cousin, Sonia Trujillo, reportedly believes the company has clouded priorities.

“What I’m concerned about is, we’re dealing with the Amtrak police department on an Amtrak train,” Trujillo told RawStory.com. “I don’t know if they’re trying to protect the train or if they’re trying to protect the people.”

Salazar reportedly text his grandmother just before the train stopped in Truckee to tell her he'd made a friend with whom he planned to explore Sacramento. No other information about that individual is available. What's more, Salazar's family says no money or belongings were taken.

So, while the family believes Salazar was beaten, they maintain it must have been a hate crime because he was not robbed.

“I believe it was something deeper because the burn marks. Why burn somebody?," Trujillo asked RawStory.com. "If you’re going to hurt somebody, hurt them. But why are you going to burn somebody?”

A GoFundMe.com account quickly raised the family's initial goal of $5,000, so they increased it to $10,000 to help the family cover expenses — since Salazar's parents aren't working while they wait for their son to wake up.

In the five days since the GoFundMe.com account was created, Samaritans from across the country have helped raised more than $11,000 (as of May 23).

To donate, follow this link.

Image via GoFundMe.com/GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner