Owen Knight, a beloved 22-year-old skateboarder and kitchen worker at Tacovore in Eugene, Oregon, is facing a difficult recovery after a serious accident while skateboarding.
According to family members, Owen was skating when a car suddenly veered toward them.
In a split-second attempt to avoid being struck head-on, Owen jumped off the board, but the vehicle clipped the skateboard and sent Owen crashing hard onto the curb.
The impact was brutal; it shattered their hip and broke the femur right at the hip joint.
That same night, Owen was rushed into emergency surgery to repair the femur and reconstruct the hip.
Doctors warned from the start that this would be a long road: weeks in a wheelchair, then months on a walker, with no weight-bearing on the injured leg for at least 12 weeks.
Just when it seemed things might be looking up after being discharged, Owen spiked a high fever and started feeling seriously wrong.
They were taken back to the hospital, where tests revealed multiple pulmonary emboli, dangerous blood clots in the lungs.
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Owen is now on strong blood thinners and closely monitored, adding to his challenging recovery.
Owen’s mother, Amanda Mae Woodruff, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook:
“This is a post I never wanted to write. My kid Owen was hit with a nightmare combo: they shattered their hip and broke their femur dodging a car, had major surgery, then ended up back in the hospital with a fever and were diagnosed with pulmonary emboli (blood clots in their lungs). Recovery will be long, they’ll be in a wheelchair/using a walker, and they won’t be able to work for months. I’m asking for help for Owen so their rent, basic bills, and accessibility needs are covered while they focus on healing instead of money.”
Via Facebook
Owen’s aunt, Mary Holmes, started a GoFundMe titled
“Help Owen Knight Recover from Devastating Skateboarding Accident” with a goal of $10,000.
The page explains that Owen has worked on their feet in the Tacovore kitchen for the past five years and, even with Oregon Paid Leave, the reduced hours and delayed benefits won’t come close to covering rent, utilities, groceries, and the medical equipment they now desperately need, things like a proper wheelchair, walker, shower chair, and grab bars for their apartment.
Mary wrote in the most recent update:
“After going home, Owen spiked a fever and just wasn’t right, so we came back to the hospital. After a long night of tests, they finally found the cause—pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs). They’ve started blood thinners and are being monitored closely. This means a longer, more complicated recovery on top of the shattered hip and femur. Thank you for every donation and share so far. It’s helping Owen stay afloat while they focus on healing.”
Via GoFundMe
Owen is known in Eugene’s skate and restaurant community as fiercely independent and almost never asks for help.
Right now, though, the reality is stark: no work until at least March or April, mounting medical bills, and a body that simply can’t do what it used to.
If you’re able to donate or share Owen’s fundraiser, it would mean the world to them and their family during this incredibly tough time.
Wishing Owen a steady recovery and as much comfort as possible in the weeks and months ahead. The community has their back. ❤️
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