Oklahoma ATV Crash Survivor Hopes Others Learn From His Mistake

An Oklahoma boy severely injured in an ATV accident is sharing his story to warn others.

The 14-year-old broke several bones and cannot walk right now. He invited News 9 to one of his physical therapy sessions at The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital to show what the recovery process is like.

Dillon Kimbrel broke so many bones he cannot put weight on his legs or use his arms to push himself up. He likes to have fun, but said the fun he was having on an ATV was not worth the injuries he suffered.

“I remember sliding across the gravel, my face sliding across the gravel,” Kimbrel said.

Kimbrel is lucky to be alive. The 14-year-old crashed when he tried to jump a hill.

“I was running about 25 to 30 miles per hour and I hit that hill and I flew about 25 feet,” Kimbrel told News 9.

The ATV landed on top of him, breaking his collar bone, leg, hip and arm. He was not wearing a helmet.

“It was pretty scary. I think the scariest part was being on the 4-wheeler in the air and realizing the nose was pointing down and I was not going to land it right,” Kimbrel explained.

Kimbrel's mother, Peggy, is on the Martha Fire Department near Altus and stayed by his side until help arrived.

“It's a little bit different situation when you are a first responder than it is when you're just the mom, but it was scary,” said Peggy Kimbrel.

Kimbrel is now in recreational and physical therapy, re-learning how to do everyday things while his bones heal.

Spring is right around the corner and there is usually always a spike in ATV accidents starting around spring break. Kimbrel hopes others learn from his pain.

“If you're going to be jumping ramps, make sure you have your helmet on and all of your protective gear on and make sure that that ATV was built to go over the ramps,” Kimbrel said.

He can go home as soon as he can safely transfer from a wheelchair to a vehicle.

Kimbrel's doctors said he should be back to normal in six to eight months if he works hard with rehab.