ATV Accident Victim Is Pushing For New Safety Measures

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Posted: 9:14 PM Jul 21, 2008
Last Updated: 10:17 PM Jul 21, 2008
Reporter: Angela Sparkman
Email Address: angela.sparkman@wymtnews.com

12 comments

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A Pike County man is fighting for his life after an ATV accident.

He is the second family member to be involved in a serious ATV crash.

Now the other victim, a teenager, is taking his ATV safety message to the public.

Dustin Layne-Lawson wasn't wearing a helmet when he crashed two years ago.

Doctors told his family he would never survive.

He did, but his life will never be the same.

Now a cousin crashed on an ATV over the weekend and has serious head injuries.

The teen is sharing his story, in hopes others won't go through the same thing.

18 year old Dustin Layne-Lawson dreamed of going to college and one day being an architect, but now, those dreams will never come true.

“Cause I just got one eye and a I just can't see very good,” Dustin said.

An ATV crash two years ago took Dustin's sight and almost took his life.

Mom Garlene Layne-Abshire says he crashed head-on into another ATV and went flying to the ground.

He wasn't wearing a helmet and the crash broke his skull, caused brain damage, and collapsed his lungs.

“Told us he would not survive the night,” Garlene said.

After seven weeks in a coma, and months of rehabilitation, Dustin can walk and talk, but still has brain damage and isn't expected to fully recover.

“We know if he was wearing a helmet, his injuries would not have been as severe,” Garlene said.

Now the family is dealing with this again.

Another family member, 31 year old Shawn Hunt, had an ATV accident Saturday and is fighting for his life.

Now Dustin is preaching ATV safety.

Dustin may never be an architect, but now he has a new career.

“Save one life, to save it,” Dustin said.

A career he thinks is worth it if people wear their helmets.

Shawn Hunt is in Holston Valley Hospital in Tennessee.

Dustin Layne-Lawson hopes to get some company sponsors to help take his story statewide and convince others to wear helmets.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on Aug 1, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Sounds to me like this family tree doesn't fork at all. If that many people in one family can't read the instruction PRINTED ON THE ATV, not wearing a helmet is the least of their problems.

Posted by: cynthia Location: richmond on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Dustin is a hero and a miracle. May God bless him, his cousin, and their families. Maybe someday everyone will wear helmets.

Posted by: artteacher Location: p;ike county on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Dustin's accident was just that, an accident. He had worn his helmet all evening. He does not remember why on that ride he had not put it on. Dustin was on a leisurly ride when he entered a blind curve and was hit head on by a dirt bike. His message is for "all ATV's safety and swareness and know your surroundings" not just wearing a helmet. The majority of the interview was left out. He is saying to make wise deicisions and to be safe no matter what age you are. We agree that the ATV laws should be pushed yet we see that this is not done. Dustin just wants everyone to make their own decisions but to make wise ones. His decision of not putting his helmet back on has left him with life long medical problems and not the life he would have wanted.He doesn't want any other family go through the pain of watching a loved one die or suffer due to not heeding ATV safety. Dustin is looking for sponsorship to help him spread his message to the public, especially to the schools.

Posted by: amanda Location: pikeville on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:50 PM
I believe that parents need to monitor there children a whole lot more. A child has no business riding a Atv or a dirt bike on the road anyways and if parents would watch there kids more alot of these accidents would not happen. I don't blame the child I blame the parents for not giving these children better guidence.They need to pay better attention to there kids.

Posted by: R Location: Ky on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Way to go Dustin. Everyone who rides an atv should wear an helment, which she be made a law for anyone who rides an ATV just as well it is law for motorcycles. It should also be law that anyone under th age of 16 should not be able to ride ATV's or motorcycles and if the police do catch someone riding an ATV without a helmet and on the highway they should be fined.....I hope and pray Dustin that you are able to take your story statewide and help others to be more safe when they are riding a motor vehicle....

Posted by: Will Location: Whitesburg on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Yea on the first comment. Lets make a road for ATVs, one for coal trucks and oh yea don't forget the motorcycle highway and the bicycle highway and the pedestrian highway too. LOL

Posted by: RALPH Location: PIKEVILLE on Jul 22, 2008 at 05:50 PM
I AGREE WITH ZEKE AND GOBEL. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO OBTAIN A DRIVING LICENSE IN ORDER TO RIDE AN ATV. MOST ATV'S THAT ARE MADE ANYMORE HAVE MORE POWER THAN A LOT OF VEHICLES THAT CAN BE RIDDEN ON THE HIGWAYS LEGALLY. EVEN AT THAT, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T MATURED ENOUGH. NO!!! ATV'S ARE NOT TOYS.

Posted by: anyomus Location: pike county on Jul 22, 2008 at 05:13 PM
i think that everyone should wear a helmet and gloves to protect head and hands....i think atv's should be allowed on the highway with a road beside the highway like in west virginia...got look there ksp...and government...

Posted by: Me Location: Here on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Good job Dustin, I wish you luck in your quest for more safety while on ATV's. Helmets should definitely be worn on all motor vehicles .... motorcycles, ATV's and right on down the line to snowmobiles.

Posted by: james Location: ky on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:26 AM
If the police would do their jobs then noone would have to push for more regulations.

Posted by: J Location: Wallins on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:07 AM
If people had to pay motor vehicle tax on those things it would really cut down on the number of people riding them. Also there are no ATV laws enforced around here.

Posted by: Zeke Location: Olin on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:43 AM
Dustin sould be preaching about operating the atv`s in a safe maner, not just wearing a helmet, if he had been more attentive to what he was doing he wouldn`t have had a HEAD ON crash. The sooner people realize these things are not a toy and respect them as an unfeeling machine the better off they will be

Posted by: Goebel Location: Lexington on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Most people who have ATV's accidents are riding unsafe to start with. When it come to safe riding and wearing a helment you are in charge of you. Stay out of other people's business.

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