Positivity: Helmet saves teenager’s life in ATV accident
10/24/2008
A Round Valley High School teenager critically injured while riding an ATV last month is now touting the use of safety helmets. He and his doctors believe a helmet saved his life when a truck hit his ATV.
Cody Sommers, a sophomore at Round Valley High School, hopes to educate other teens about the importance of helmet safety.
“Wearing a helmet saved my life, and I hope that my story can convince others to wear helmets while riding ATVs and bicycles,” Cody said in a recent hospital press statement.
Sommers was driving his ATV on the morning of Sept. 17 on the way to a bus stop when he was hit by a truck. He was thrown about 100 feet on impact and airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center with critical injuries, according to the press release.
“Trauma surgeons removed Cody’s spleen and kidney, and he received 13 units of blood in his first several hours at St. Joseph’s. He also suffered damage to his liver, numerous fractures, pelvic injuries and a collapsed lung, but he did not sustain any head trauma because he was wearing a helmet at the time of his accident.”
After spending just over a month in the hospital, Sommers was released Monday and is happy to be recuperating back at home. During the accident, he suffered many injuries including dislocating his pelvis from his spine. Doctors had to screw the pelvis back to his spine on both sides and, for the next three months, he is not allowed to put any weight on his legs.
For now, he’ll spend his time getting well. According to his mother, Candy Sommers, her son will spend time on the Internet attempting to get caught up on his sophomore year of studies. He plans to return to Round Valley High School next fall for his junior year. When time permits, Sommers plays with his PlayStation III, listens to music or wheels himself around the house in his wheelchair.
Sommer’s friends and family have held several fund-raisers on his behalf.
“At one of the car washes, they raffled off a safety helmet similar to the one Cody was wearing,” his mother said. “The Phoenix woman who won the raffle called to make arrangements to pick it up, but during the conversation she decided instead to donate the helmet back to Cody.
“The community has pulled together so much to help us. We really appreciate all their help, cards and notes. Cody’s hospital room was wallpapered with the pictures and cards he received. They really cheered him up,” Candy said.
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