Former Capital High baseball player speaks out after DUI-involved crash

Dean Kelly, a 2025 graduate, is recovering from serious injuries after being hit head-on by a drunk driver.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:53am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a bruised and tattooed arm, the skin textured and the lighting stark, conceptually representing the aftermath of a serious car accident caused by drunk driving.A former high school baseball player's tattooed arm bears the scars of a devastating DUI-involved crash that nearly took his life.Charleston Today

Dean Kelly, a 2025 graduate of the Capital High School baseball program, was seriously injured last Thursday when his truck was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Kelly was trapped in his vehicle for nearly 45 minutes and suffered multiple broken bones, but says he is lucky to be alive. He is now speaking out to warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the devastating impact that drunk driving can have on individuals and communities. Kelly's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of making responsible choices behind the wheel and the lasting consequences that can result from impaired driving.

The details

Kelly says he was trapped in his truck for nearly 45 minutes after the crash, and at the time, he thought he was paralyzed. His family says he is lucky to have survived, but the road to recovery will be long as he deals with injuries to his hip that will affect him for the rest of his life. Kelly is now sharing his story in the hopes of preventing others from making the same mistake of drinking and driving.

  • The crash occurred last Thursday.
  • Kelly stood up for the first time on Monday as he begins his recovery.

The players

Dean Kelly

A 2025 graduate of the Capital High School baseball program who was seriously injured in a DUI-involved crash.

Tracy Samples

Kelly's aunt, who says the road ahead will be long as he deals with injuries that will affect him for the rest of his life.

Capital High School Baseball team

The team shared a social media post warning about the dangers of drinking and driving after announcing Kelly's accident.

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What they’re saying

“I told him, 'I can't move my legs'. At the time, I thought I was paralyzed. After impact, my whole dash was laying on my lap in my truck.”

— Dean Kelly

“We can deal with broken bones and recover from certain injuries, but with his being in his hip and stuff, it's something he's going to have to deal with the rest of your life. It's not, you know, put a Band-Aid on it, it'll be all right, go on. He'll deal with it the rest of his life.”

— Tracy Samples, Kelly's aunt

“I want this to be a learning experience. I don't mean just kids my age, but, you know, young adults or older people that do drink and drive, it's not worth it. It's not worth their life, your life, anybody who's in the car's life, it's just not worth it. There's no good thing that comes out of drinking and driving.”

— Dean Kelly

What’s next

Kelly has a job offer waiting for him when he heals up, and in the meantime, he is focused on sharing his story to warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from impaired driving. Kelly's story highlights the importance of making responsible choices behind the wheel and the lasting impact that drunk driving can have on individuals, families, and communities.