A 19-year-old Olympia motorcyclist, identified by family as Aadin Gosser, is fighting through a grueling recovery in the hospital after a car allegedly sideswiped his motorcycle on I‑5 northbound on Tuesday. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones, and family members say he has already undergone several surgeries. Police say the driver took off after the crash but was later found and arrested; the suspect now faces DUI, vehicular assault and hit-and-run charges.
Family and hospital update
According to KIRO 7, Gosser has already gone through six surgeries and was recently taken off life support as he starts what doctors expect will be a long, difficult recovery. The station reports he suffered a collapsed artery and lung, a brain bleed and roughly 43 broken bones. Family members told KIRO 7 he is now coherent and working to stay positive. His mother, Danielle Dickenson, put her anger bluntly in an interview with the station, saying, "He chose to drink and drive. He chose to continue down the road and leave my son on the road with critical injuries."
Crash details and arrest
A family member told investigators the other vehicle drifted from the right lane into the middle lane and clipped Gosser's motorcycle, sending the bike into the median, according to a timeline summarized by the Dubin Law Group blog. That post also notes officers located and arrested a suspect a few miles from the crash scene. The law-firm blog's headline framed the case as a fatal collision, but the article text itself describes Gosser's hospitalization and ongoing recovery.
Charges and legal stakes
The suspect has been booked on suspicion of DUI, vehicular assault and hit-and-run, pleaded not guilty at an initial court appearance and was released without bail, according to KIRO 7. Under state law, vehicular assault is defined at RCW 46.61.522 as causing substantial bodily harm while driving recklessly or under the influence and is treated as a class B felony. Leaving the scene after causing an injury crash is covered by RCW 46.52.020, which can be charged as a felony when someone is hurt. The Washington State Department of Licensing notes that a vehicular assault conviction brings license revocation along with other administrative penalties.
Family fundraiser and recovery outlook
The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting medical and rehabilitation costs. The Dubin Law Group blog and the family estimate that medical expenses may already exceed $1 million. They say Gosser is expected to stay at Harborview for roughly three months as he continues his recovery.
Statewide context
Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of serious crashes in Washington. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reported 346 impaired-driver deaths in 2024 and continues to urge people to line up sober rides and support stepped-up enforcement. Officials say education campaigns and tougher enforcement are both key parts of efforts to prevent tragedies like the collision that left Gosser hospitalized.
