Danny Facto, a part-time Syracuse University student, died Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident in Cicero, just outside of Syracuse. He lost control of his motorcycle and crashed off East Taft Road at around 11:30 p.m., said Sgt. John D’Eredita of the Onondaga County sheriff’s office. Facto, 29, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered massive head injuries. He was wearing a novelty-style helmet at the time of the accident. Rain is not being reported as a factor in the crash, and there are no indications of any other vehicle involved, D’Eredita said.

Paramedics pronounced Facto dead at the scene and he was taken immediately to a medical examiner’s office. Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and if alcohol could have contributed to the accident, D’Eredita said. Facto was a junior in the College of Human Ecology majoring in social work and enrolled through University College. A resident of Bridgeport, N.Y., and a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, Facto came to SU after six and a half years of military service. He was with the 10th Mountain Division and served two tours of duty in Afghanistan as an infantry squad leader, said university spokesman Kevin Morrow.

His academic advisor, Emileen Butler, came to know Facto well during his time at SU as he would often stop in her office to just to talk.

‘You know that feeling you get when you meet a person and you feel like you’ve just known them forever? That was the kind of person Danny was,’ Butler recalled.

During a tour of Afghanistan, Facto and his soldiers underwent a mortar attack for 12 continuous hours, Butler said. Facto suffered a brain injury from the attack. He earned a Purple Heart for his efforts during the onslaught, Butler said. When Facto arrived home, he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. With his social work, he hoped to help other soldiers with the same disorder when they returned, Butler said.

‘He never bragged,’ Butler recalled. ‘He was very humble and very dedicated to serving his country. He may not have agreed with everything, but he was a dedicated veteran. He was extremely passionate about life and about helping veterans to assimilate into civilian life, which had been difficult for him.’

Facto was slated to serve on a committee that would help set up proper services for veterans returning home from duty, Butler said.

‘He could have contributed a lot. He was just a great kid, a wonderful dad and a wonderful husband,’ Butler said. ‘He had a lot to give and this is just so unfortunate.’ Facto is survived by his wife Kristen and children Tia, 7 and Sidney, 6.

blbump@syr.edu

Published on August 19, 2009 at 12:00 pm