Teen crash victim on the mend

November 8, 2005

MARY AMES\Frontiersman reporter

Zach Tanner said he didn't really have a costume for Halloween, but went out anyway.

&#8220I went as a kid in a wheelchair,” Tanner said, sitting in his wheelchair at Colony High School.

When Tanner, 16, crashed his 1999 black Ford Explorer on Sept. 12, he was alone, badly injured and hours away from rescue. Barely conscious when he was found at the wreck site, he has no memory of his first two weeks in the hospital.

Doctors at Providence Alaska Medical Center, where Tanner arrived about 16 hours after his crash, cautioned his parents that his recuperation would probably be long and slow.

But Tanner is ahead of the healing curve. He returned to school last week, still in the recovery process but looking quite fit, especially for someone whose foot, jaw and collarbone were broken less than two months ago.

Zach said he goes to school for the classes and social life, but won't have to do any of the homework or tests until next semester.

Meanwhile, he home-schools with his mother, Kristan Cole, to catch up with his classmates.

A rod in his left leg is holding it together until the bones begin to heal, according to Tanner's father, Yukon Don Tanner. And his son is facing more surgeries in the future, he said.

After looking at his X-rays later this week, a doctor will know whether it's time for a bone graft for Zach.

&#8220Surgery depends on how quickly he heals,” Cole said. &#8220Zach's done amazingly well. We're tickled to death and thankful for all the people who prayed for us.”

Yukon Don Tanner brought photos from the wreck site at Mile 63.5 Parks Hwy. and photos of the smashed Explorer to school to show to Zach. His son's car went from about 55 to 60 mph to zero in less than a second when it went straight into the trees instead of following the curve in the road, he said.

Zach has a message he wants to share from his experience.

&#8220Be careful. And make sure your parents know where you are,” he said.

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.