VAN ALSTYNE, Texas (KXII) – A 21-year-old Marine corporal is in the ICU after a motorcycle crash on FM 121 left him with a spinal cord injury and other serious injuries, his family said.
Matthew Wall, a North Texas resident, was riding his motorcycle to his mechanic job at John Deere in Van Alstyne on July 15 after his truck wouldn’t start. A car pulled out in front of him and stopped, according to his cousin, Cassie Bailey.
“He was on FM 121 going into Van Alstyne when a car pulled out in front of him and stopped,” Bailey said. “Emergency crews worked on him for probably an hour just to get him stabilized before he was flown by Care Flight to Medical City, Plano.”
Injuries and current condition
The collision left Wall with a T6 spinal cord injury, leaving him with no feeling from the chest down. He also suffered a fractured wrist, a small brain bleed, and a partially collapsed lung.
Since his initial spine surgery, Wall has undergone additional procedures, including surgery to address a spinal fluid leak. He was also placed on ECMO — a machine Bailey described as acting as a second lung — after complications arose when a chest tube was removed. Wall has remained in the ICU since July 15.
“I honestly thought that I was going to get a call that he didn’t make it,” Bailey said.
Bailey said as of July 27, doctors have provided positive feedback and Wall’s condition has shown improvement. The family said they are taking his recovery one day at a time.
Background
Wall graduated early from Blue Ridge high school and joined the Marines at 17. He has served for four years and was promoted to corporal before the accident. In addition to his reserve service, he worked full time as a mechanic at John Deere and was taking online college courses at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
“He graduated high school early so he could join the Marines. And that’s his passion,” Bailey said. “He works full time at John Deere as a mechanic and is online for college. He’s always been working hard.”
Bailey said Wall had also been helping his family prepare to care for his grandparents on the property before the crash.
“In one moment, everything changed,” Bailey said.
Family faces financial challenges
Wall’s family said they face a long and costly road ahead, including a wheelchair, vehicle modifications, home modifications, and rehabilitation at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation in Plano. If Wall is discharged from the Marines, he could also lose his insurance coverage.
“We’re very hopeful and we have faith that God’s going to take care of him and he’s going to start walking again,” Bailey said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Wall’s recovery costs. Donations can be made at this link.
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