On November 14, 2024, Darren Webster was preparing for Baja 1000 contingency when his life changed in a horrifying instant: a Trophy Truck started up and crashed into three vehicles in front of it, killing two and grievously injuring Webster and another. After a frantic return to the United States, he underwent months upon months of surgeries.

It was a painful and arduous effort, but 12 months later, he feels things have been looking up for him since.

“In some respects, it seems as though it has gone by fast, while in reality, a year of healing is quite a long time,” he wrote on the one-year anniversary of the accident.

He was part of Canguro Racing, a team of friends that fields a Toyota Land Cruiser in the Stock Full Size category and won their class at the 2020 Baja 1000. While in the procession leading up to technical inspection, Russell Buehler’s #79 Trophy Truck was piloted by one of his team members and suddenly accelerated forward, crushing Webster and three others. Two of the victims died in the hospital, the driver was arrested, and Buehler and Canguro both withdrew their entries. SCORE received sanctions from the city of Ensenada and the state of Baja California afterward, but the race proceeded as scheduled.

Webster’s injuries were substantial. His pelvis was crushed and left hand torn nearly 90% off the wrist, the latter in such bad condition that doctors in Mexico initially considered amputation. He also had a lacerated spleen, internally degloved left leg, kidney failure, and soon after a perforated bowel.

Rushed to a hospital in Ensenada, he recalled being “amazingly well stabilized” in the ICU with transfusions from non-matching donors and his friends. After two days there, Webster was airlifted to Intermountain Medical Center in Utah. Pelvis surgery proved to be a success, while tissue from his leg were used to rebuild the hand. Barely two weeks later, he had already undergone three surgeries. Webster later experienced blood clotting which led to pulmonary embolisms and the need for blood thinners, which prevented additional procedures for a while but his life was otherwise no longer in danger.

Once off the thinners, hand reconstruction worked out.

“The transplant was successful, and I now have a pretty good-sized piece of my thigh living on my wrist. It’s wild,” he remarked. Another operation next March is planned to so the skin flap could be reshaped “to look a bit more at home”.

He was discharged on January 29, using a walker but still able to put some weight on his leg. Over the spring, surgeries took place to remove the external fixator from his hand and finally restore use to it and his fingers.

Meanwhile, his friends and family modified the house to accommodate his situation such as adding a ramp and stair lift and remodeling the bathrooms. His wife Lisa has especially been vigilant in taking care of him, which he’s more than grateful for.

“I believe in a God who knows me and knows my needs,” Webster continued. “I have a Savior who has made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may be forgiven of my faults and have the opportunity to progress in this life. I felt your prayers. I believe that they were answered. I believe in miracles and know that many took place for me to still be here. I’m not sure the reason I was saved and others not, but I’ll continue to try to serve and become a better person through the rest of my time here.

“The biggest blessing in my life is my family. Lisa was my personal nurse and advocate every single day. My kids visited often and gave Lisa much-needed breaks from staring at a comatose husband and wondering if he was going to be himself again one day.

“The hospital staff was top-notch. Seriously, I could be lifelong friends with so many of them. I know they were doing a job, but the vast majority of them did so while making me feel like I was their only patient.”

While he hasn’t been able to do much since as he continues his recovery, things are going alright.

“I’m actually doing really well considering I got hit by a 7000 lb 1000 hp race truck,” Webster quipped. “I’ve got hand therapy twice a week, working on range of motion for my wrist and fingers. It’s slow going, but I see improvement. My lower body does pretty well as long as I don’t stand too long, walk too far, or sit too long. If I’m rested, I walk pretty normally. I’m no longer in physical therapy for my lower body, but I try to do a lot of what I used to do, which is making me stronger and I’m gaining stamina.

“I plan on returning to work in January, but I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed this taste of retirement. Blessings and miracles still take place, many coming from people like you, and for that, I am thankful and grateful.”

Featured image credit: Canguro Racing