By Patrick Tepoorten

In a matter of seconds on Jan. 20, young local couple Alexis Webber and Ryan Locke went from trying to make a simple lane change to finding themselves on the business end of a semi. 

Pictured: Vistors are welcome at both Alexis Webber's and Ryan Locke's Caring Bridge Web sites. 

The two had just left Locke’s mother, Lynette Engelbretson in Forest Lake, headed north to spend some time together celebrating Webber’s birthday before Locke had to work. But only moments after getting on to I-35 north, Webber lost control of the car, after which it was hit repeatedly by the semi and pushed down the road before it came to a halt in the median between I-35 and Hwy. 8.

When it was all said and done, the two teenagers were as broken as the car.

According to Webber’s father Jerry, his daughter, 17, of Harris and Locke, 17, very recently of Lino Lakes, neither wearing a seat belt, were bounced around like “pinballs” when Webber’s Mitsubishi Galant was struck by Heath Okerstrom, 35, of Forest Lake.

Both suffered severe head injuries as a result, and Webber was actually half-ejected from the vehicle, pushed back into the car only by the front end of the truck as it pushed the car down the road.

At first it looked like Locke had received the worst of it. Unconscious, and with a partially collapsed lung, injuries to his brain and  spleen, and a fractured pelvis, he was airlifted from the scene and was receiving breathing assistance.

Webber meanwhile, was transported by ambulance with a fractured skull, multiple severe lacerations to her face, a broken jaw and collar bone, a fractured vertebrae and collarbone, punctures to her carotid artery, and a blood clot in her head. Her father believes most of the head injuries occurred when she made contact with the semi grill.

Things got worse for Webber after she arrived at the hospital. The night of the accident she suffered four strokes.

Just over two weeks after the crash, both victims are making a remarkable recovery. In slightly less than a week, both were able to walk around, communicate (although both suffer from episodes of confusion as a result of head injuries), and were able to enjoy the occasional visit with each other.

By Jan. 27, Locke was able to eat breakfast, wash and shave, and visited the gift store to buy a rose for Webber, who was in surgery having her jaw wired.

Both have a long road of recovery and physical therapy ahead. But for Locke, at least, his continuing recovery may soon take place from home. Engelbretson had a meeting planned this Tuesday (Feb. 5) at which she hoped doctors would be able to provide a firm discharge date.

Following his discharge, Locke will undergo speech and occupational therapy for symptoms resulting of his head injuries.

Webber is beginning  two weeks of intensive in-patient rehabilitation as a result her head injuries and subsequent strokes, but it is hoped she too will be able to go home following that period.

Over the last week the two have been able to visit much more frequently, and Engelbretson believes their proximity has had an effect. “It has helped immensely,” she said. “If they didn’t have each other telling each other to hang in there,” recovery would be much slower, she added.

Locke, who has had to change rooms frequently during his hospital stay is now on the same floor and just down the hall from Webber.

Far from distraught over the severity of the injuries suffered by the couple, family feels fortunate to have them still around. “I’m sitting next to a miracle child,” said Webber’s father in a phone interview from his daughter’s bed side last week. “They are both lucky to be alive,” said Englebretson on Tuesday.

About Okerstrom, who was driving the semi the day of the crash, Webber’s father had nothing but nice things to say. “He has been a super trooper,” he said. He would like to see the three crash victims get together when recoveries are further along, and Okerstrom has been checking in regularly to see how the two are faring.

If anyone would like to keep an eye on Locke’s and Webber’s recovery, or send them a message of encouragement online, they can do so at the two crash victims’ “Caring Bridge” Web sites. Locke’s address is www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryanlocke, and Webber’s is www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexiswebber. The above links will also be available in the story at www.ecmpostreview.com.

Previous story:  Harris and North Branch teens injured in I-35 crash

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