'That Truck Saved His Life,' Says Mom Of Injured L-W West Senior

NEW LENOX, IL — The mother of a Manhattan teen and a Lincoln-Way West High School senior who suffered severe injuries in a single-car crash last week says he'll have a long recovery ahead of him.

Brenden Wetzel was driving to school Friday, Feb. 10 around 7:30 a.m., when it's believed he lost control of his pickup truck on Cherry Hill Road, just north of Laraway Road. He struck a tree head-on, leaving him with both arms and legs broken, a lacerated spleen, and a concussion. An unknown witness called 911; Wetzel was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox before then being transported to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, his aunt said Tuesday. He's undergone several surgeries for his injuries and remains in the intensive care unit.

"It’s overwhelming, it’s the scariest thing that a parent can go through, is seeing this happen to your child, and the fear of the unknown," said Wetzel's aunt Becky Mullner.

Wetzel is a "good ol' country boy," his mom said, and was heartbroken to learn they'd had to cut off his Ariat cowboy boots to treat his injuries. His beloved Dodge Ram truck was badly damaged in the crash, his family said, and after seeing pictures, "It's hard to believe he was in there," his mom said.

The news that Josie Wetzel's son had been in an accident stunned her, but she had no idea the extent of the injuries he had endured. Being behind the wheel of his truck played a big factor in his survival, she said. Wetzel suffered an open femur fracture on his right leg, open tibia/fibula fracture on his left, a broken left ulna fracture w/ hand injury, right arm fracture, lacerated spleen, skin lacerations, a severe concussion, and internal bleeding. He required emergency surgery which lasted around six hours. Will County Sheriff's deputies on scene told Josie if he had been in a car, the outcome might have been different.

"If he had been in anything else..." she said. "That truck saved his life."

Wetzel has a large friend circle and social network at the high school, Mullner said.

"He’s a well-loved kid," she added.

He’s a hard worker, too, she added, as an employee at Discount Tire in New Lenox. And he loves country music.

"He’s willing to help out anybody at the drop of a hat," Mullner said. "He’s always there for my family, anyone’s family. He’s got a genuine, good heart."

Wetzel is the son of Josie and Raun, and brother to Mikayla, who attends Grand Valley State, Lincoln-Way West freshman Allison, and Manhattan Junior High seventh grader Jessica. Family and friends will focus on keeping his spirits up in the short-term, as his recovery is mapped out.

His recovery will be slow and steady, Mullner said. The doctor and orthopedic surgeon estimates it will take six months to a year for him to heal. He'll be non-weight bearing on one leg for at least six weeks, Mullner said, so it will be at least that long until he's up and walking.

A GoFundMe for the family has already raised $17,000 (with some of that earmarked to replace his beloved boots). The family is grateful for the support, Mullner said.

"It’s overwhelming, thank you to all those who have donated," she said. "It's incomprehensible that so many people have reached out and donated."

Josie said she's grateful the outcome was not worse.

"The only thing I knew when they called me, was that they had some broken bones," she said. "At first, I thought a broken arm, maybe a broken leg. There was no way to prepare myself for two broken legs ... and two broken arms. That was the longest drive from Manhattan to Silver Cross I’ve ever had in my life.

"It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. I’m very thankful for the injuries that he has, because it could have been worse. That truck saved his life, and many guardian angels I know. He can recover, we’ll get through it, and I still have my boy."

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