A San Diego mother-of-three has sustained a devastating spinal injury following a terrifying dune buggy crash in the California desert, with her three children fortunately escaping serious harm from the incident.
New Year's Celebration Turns to Nightmare
Kalene Bartolone, aged 32, was preparing to welcome the New Year with family and friends in Ocotillo Wells last month when the horrific collision occurred. She was driving an RZR utility task vehicle when she approached a hill at excessive speed, causing the vehicle to launch into the air and crash-land with tremendous force, rolling onto its side.
Her husband Vinny and his friend, Joe Eigner, who witnessed the accident from his nearby dirt bike, managed to rescue the children from the wreckage. The youngsters emerged without major injuries, but Kalene remained trapped inside the immobilized vehicle.
Emergency Response and Critical Injuries
Eigner described the scene in a Facebook post, stating: 'Kalene overshot the hill with way too much speed and flew in the air like I've never seen a dune buggy jump before.' The group immediately called 911, with park rangers and paramedics arriving at the remote desert location within fifteen minutes.
Despite wearing a helmet, Kalene had to be extracted using Jaws of Life equipment before being airlifted to hospital. Medical examinations revealed a crushed vertebra and pinched spinal cord, necessitating an agonizing nine-hour surgical procedure on December 30th.
Long Road to Recovery
The family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a $50,000 target to help cover substantial medical expenses and support Kalene's rehabilitation. The fundraising page explains: 'What started out as a great day turned into a nightmare. Thankfully, all children are okay. Unfortunately, Kalene is not. Her spinal cord was damaged and her L-1 was completely shattered.'
According to the Cleveland Clinic, while many vertebral fractures don't require surgical intervention, severe cases like Kalene's can result in chronic pain and permanent mobility challenges. The family provided an encouraging update on January 15th, reporting that Kalene has miraculously begun taking her first steps during inpatient rehabilitation.
Family Support and Community Response
The GoFundMe description portrays Kalene as 'beautiful, smart, cheerful, funny, loving and unbelievably strong,' noting that her positive attitude and determination have inspired those around her. Her husband Vinny works for San Diego Parks and Recreation, while Kalene herself serves as a doula specializing in pre-birth education for new mothers through San Diego Christian Doulas.
The couple's children – Katelyn (12), Vinny (9), and eight-month-old Carson – were all present during the accident but emerged physically unharmed. Ocotillo Wells, located approximately ninety miles east of San Diego, features designated off-road areas for motorcycles, four-wheelers, and all-terrain vehicles like the one involved in this incident.
As Kalene continues her challenging rehabilitation journey, the family remains grateful for the outpouring of support while confronting the reality of extensive medical bills and an uncertain recovery timeline following the desert tragedy.
