Motorcyclist recovering from spinal surgery

A motorcyclist who suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash in Eden Prairie on Sunday, March 20, is recovering from spinal surgery. 

Jared Wesley Farwell, 29, of Shakopee, lost control of his 2018 Indian Scout motorcycle while riding at high speed south on Highway 169 near Anderson Lakes Parkway, flipping over a guardrail. According to the Minnesota State Patrol incident report, no other vehicles were involved.

In an email on Wednesday, his brother, Andrew, said that Farwell, who goes by “Wes,” had spinal surgery on Monday. According to Andrew, an eight-hour procedure left Farwell with “three rods and pins placed in his T3-T9 vertebrae.”

Farwell also had surgery Wednesday on his fractured right wrist.

“He still can’t feel from his belly button (on) down,” Andrew said. “We are staying positive that he will regain those feelings.”

A GoFundMe account organized by Andrew to help pay for Farwell’s medical bills has raised $6,385 (as of 4 p.m. March 23) toward its $15,000 goal. The fundraiser describes Farwell as a U.S. Marine, husband, and loving father to his daughter. 

A State Patrol incident report of the accident stated that alcohol was involved, and Farwell was not wearing a helmet.

But, Andrew said that Farwell was wearing a helmet when the accident occurred. 

Multiple witnesses told Andrew they helped Farwell take off his helmet at the accident scene. He said that his brother, who was alert, could not do it himself because his right hand was injured.

State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank said Wednesday the accident remains an open investigation. He referred to the incident report on the State Patrol website for any available public data.