Teen hurt badly in wreck out of hospital, in rehab

By Justin Post, of The Montana Standard - 09/20/2007

A Butte teen severely injured Aug. 30 in a motorcycle accident behind the Blaine Community Center in Walkerville was transferred Monday to a Missoula rehabilitation facility, a family member said.

Dylan Dallaserra, 15, had been hospitalized at St. James Healthcare in Butte where at least three surgeries were performed.

Doctors removed him from a ventilator earlier this month and the youngster resumed breathing on his own. His condition also was upgraded from serious to stable condition, according to the family.

Dylan was taken by ambulance Monday to the Missoula facility accompanied by his aunt, Virginia Schonsburg, as his family followed by car, according to his grandmother, Pat Erickson of California.

He will begin speech and physical therapy in Missoula with family at his side, she said.

His father, Pete Dallaserra, and stepfather, Mark Neary, are staying with the boy for several days at a time on rotating shifts “so that he has someone with him at all times,” Erickson said.

She said Dylan’s mother, Renee Neary, and his sisters visit often.

The boy’s most recent surgery to repair his jawbone was last week at St. James. He was able to speak again Tuesday for the first time since then.

Additional facial surgeries will be required in the coming months, Erickson said. His other surgeries were for punctured and collapsed lungs and to remove a section of his skull because of brain swelling.

Dylan’s injuries stem from an Aug. 30 accident in which he and his friend J.T. Sharkey collided while riding motorcycles on a dirt road directly behind the Blaine Community Center.

J.T. was released from the hospital and has since returned to Butte High School, where he and Dylan are sophomores.

Reporter Justin Post may be reached via e-mail at justin.post@lee.net or by telephone, 496-5572.