A 24-year-old Utah man who had spent four years recovering from a severe brain injury sustained in an electric longboard accident was killed Monday after being struck by a car in Orem.
Wesley Hadfield was crossing an intersection when he was hit by a vehicle around 12:40 p.m. Medics on a lunch break witnessed the incident and attempted to provide aid, but Hadfield was pronounced dead at the scene. His family confirmed the incident on social media.
Four years prior, Hadfield suffered a traumatic brain injury after an electric longboard accident in which he was not wearing a helmet. His father, Varden Hadfield, told ABC4 that his son required emergency transport, a craniectomy, and spent four months in the hospital, nearly dying multiple times. Since then, Wesley had been on a long road to recovery, relearning basic functions like walking and talking.
Hadfield documented his recovery journey on Instagram, where he gained nearly 90,000 followers and inspired others. His mother, Becky Ahlborn, stated that many individuals with brain injuries reached out, saying Hadfield's perseverance and positive attitude motivated them to continue their own recovery efforts.
Approximately 15 months before his death, Hadfield had progressed enough to move out of his parents' home and began attending Utah Valley University as a full-time student. His recovery was so remarkable that he was invited to speak at a trauma conference in May, where the surgeon who had operated on him after the car crash recognized him from the presentation.
His father noted that Wesley became passionate about helmet safety after his own injury, wanting to prevent others from experiencing similar trauma. For his advanced writing class, Hadfield's final paper focused on promoting helmet use and finding ways to encourage people to wear them voluntarily.
Varden Hadfield described his son's death as sudden and shocking, recalling a phone call with him just an hour before the accident where Wesley expressed excitement about life and was shopping for hiking shoes. His mother had plans to have dinner with him and his girlfriend that evening.
Wesley's parents held a candlelight vigil on Wednesday and vowed to continue his advocacy for helmet use and safety. "Wear your helmet," Ahlborn urged, also advising loved ones to cherish every moment, acknowledging that helmets cannot protect against all tragedies. Donations are being accepted on Hadfield's memorial page to cover funeral expenses, with any remaining funds designated for brain injury prevention charities.