A popular Petaluma High School three-sport athlete is recovering in a Santa Rosa Hospital following several surgeries for severe injuries suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident on Saturday.
Bradley Smith, 15, a member of the Petaluma National Little League team that played in the Little League World Series in 2012, was injured in an accident in a driveway in west Petaluma Saturday evening. He was reportedly thrown from the vehicle when it skidded in loose gravel.
Family and friends report he suffered multiple injuries including two broken arms and a neck injury.
According to his aunt, Wendy Barker, who is updating Smith’s condition on the website caringbridge.org, Smith had surgery on his neck on Monday that was “a complete success.”
She reported Wednesday morning that he is recovering, although facing another surgery on Thursday.
Smith’s friends Brendan O’Neill and Dominic Ayers were with him in the ATV at the time of the accident. Neither were injured and assisted their teammate. While O’Neill called 911 and offered first aid, Ayers rushed to his nearby home to summon help. Emergency responders later commended the two for their clear-thinking efforts in helping their friend.
Smith garnered national attention while helping the Petaluma Little League team to a third-place international finish (second place nationally) in the World Series.
He was a key player on the Petaluma High School freshman team that recently completed a 24-2 season.
He played quarterback and was a significant contributor to the Petaluma High freshman football team in the fall.
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