Help My Dad In Critical Care Due To A Hit & Run

Yesterday, my dad was hit by an SUV while riding his motorcycle in Walla Walla—right at 11th and Poplar. The people who hit him didn’t stop. Two young women drove off, leaving him crumpled on the road.

He was rushed to the ER, and then life-flighted to a trauma center. He’s now in critical care, sedated and on a ventilator. We haven’t even had time to fully feel it—it still doesn’t seem real.

Here’s what we know so far:

• His C1 vertebra is fractured, and there’s serious spinal trauma at C5 and C6. The swelling is intense. Meaning there is a possibility of being paralyzed and unable to breathe without a ventilator.

• Artery damage has caused multiple strokes—we won’t know what that means long-term until the swelling goes down.

• His sternum is broken, along with his right arm and both wrists.

• His hands are bruised, and he has deep road rash on his shoulder and a burn on his hip which we think is from the exhaust pipe.

• They don’t believe there’s internal organ damage—but his body is beaten and broken.

The next 72 hours are critical. All we can do is wait and pray.

My dad, Robert DeWayne, is one of the kindest, most down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. He’s the guy who’ll stop to help a stranger on the side of the road and has spent countless nights in search and rescue trying to save others. He’s the kind of dad who shows up, every time, no matter what. He loves the open road, his motorcycle, and being in the mountains with his wife Tonya—riding through the trees, breathing in freedom. He’s spent his life taking care of others. And now we have to take care of him.

It’s devastating to see him like this—so strong one day, and so fragile the next. None of us were ready for this. You never are.

We’re asking for help. Not just to save his life, but to carry him through what’s coming next. If he pulls through, there’s a strong chance he’ll be paralyzed. He won’t be able to walk up the stairs to his bedroom. He may never again ride with his comrades the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. We’re looking at a complete life change—and we need to make sure he has what he needs to live with dignity, safety, and love.

Please, if you can donate, we would be deeply grateful. If you can’t, just sharing this helps more than you know. Your prayers, your kindness, your time—it all matters.

He didn’t deserve this. No one does. But we believe in community, in love, and in showing up when it counts.

Thank you for being here with us. We’ll post updates as we know more.

My dad on one of his search and rescue trainings. He really deserves to go back to his life.