Life Changing

Dustin Wakely loves to run. But a serious car accident two years ago almost took away his ability to do what he loves to do most.

A senior at NorthWood High School (Nappanee, Ind.), Wakely is a member of his school’s cross country and track and field teams, and also serves on the school’s new Lookin’ Out club.

Like most teens, Wakely was anxious to get his driver’s license when he turned 16. So he took a driver’s education class, passed the required tests and was on his way.

Close call

It was a Friday night and Wakely was driving, following a friend to a nearby party, when he pulled into the path of an oncoming car at an intersection.

He misread the intersection as a four-way stop. The driver’s side of Wakely’s car took the brunt of the impact and he was knocked unconscious. Wakely was also on his cell phone at the time of the crash.

He does not recall much of the time before or after the crash, but does remember waking up days later in a Mishawaka, Ind., hospital wondering what had happened.

His injuries were extensive: a concussion, severely cracked pelvis, punctured liver, lacerations on his bladder and kidneys, and more. The initial outlook was grim and doctors said he might never run again.

“I was really upset. I thought, ‘how could this happen?’” recalls Wakely. “I was crushed … knowing that I could not experience (running) anymore.”

But Wakely was determined to run again. He committed himself to working hard at rehabilitation and his injuries healed better than expected.

Just four months after coming home from his two-week hospital stay, Wakely was back running again.

His family believes he was blessed not only to survive the crash but also to be back running alongside his teammates.

“I have no lasting effects from the crash,” Wakely says. “My injuries healed up wonderfully.”

Speaking from experience

After this experience, Wakely’s views on driving changed and he decided to be active in his school’s Lookin’ Out club. He wants other teens to understand that having a driver’s license is a big responsibility and showing off behind the wheel is not worth the risk.

He feels new drivers should wait to transport passengers, keep the music turned down and just be smart.

“Don’t try to make yourself look like a big shot,” he advises. “You’re driving. You’re big enough.”

Hear more of Dustin Wakely’s story on Lookin’ Out podcast episode #5.

Dustin Wakely, a senior at NorthWood H.S. in Nappanee, In., fully recovered from a serious crash and is now part of his school’s Lookin’ Out club so other teens get the message that showing off behind the wheel is not worth the risk.

Lookin’ Out Podcast Episode #5
Listen to a podcast interview with Dustin where he talks about his crash, recovery and getting active in his school’s Lookin’ Out club.