Son of Iconic Surfer Remains in Coma After Freak Car Accident

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 9:20 AM ET

A little over a week ago, Dakota Briley was struck by a teenage driver on the North Shore of Oahu. The son of legendary Pipeline surfer, Shawn Briley, was unloading surfboards on Kamehameha Highway at Chun’s Reef, when the car hit him on the side of the road.

Dakota nearly died. He was rushed to the hospital in Honolulu, where he has remained, undergoing surgeries from an induced coma status. Since then, the surf community has rallied in support.

Now, following multiple operations to reconstruct Dakota’s mangled body, a glimmer of hope: Dakota is breathing on his own. But he still has a long way – maybe years – to go in his recovery.

“The nurses have done a couple tests,” said Erin Lau, Dakota’s older sister, “and it seems like in his upper body, he responds a bit. His lower body, there’s a lot we don’t know. But the spinal cord isn’t severed, and so there’s a lot of hope.”

Following the incident, a GoFundMe account was created to help support Dakota’s presumably astronomical medical fees. At the time of publish, the crowdfunding effort has raised just shy of $230k.

In the latest update from the GoFundMe, they wrote: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has shown love and support for Dakota and our family during this incredibly difficult time. Your prayers, messages, and generous donations are helping us stay strong and hopeful.”

20-year-old Dakota has been following in his father’s footsteps, charging the North Shore’s heaviest spots. Shawn Briley was an icon at Pipeline in his heyday, with Matt Warshaw writing in the Encyclopedia of Surfing: “At age 12, Briley began riding Pipeline; by 17 he’d earned a reputation as one of Hawaii’s hardest-charging young tuberiders…by the mid-’90s he was touted by no less an authority than Gerry Lopez as one of the very best Pipeline surfers.”

As for the latest regarding Dakota’s status, his sister continued:

“It’s the first time we’ve seen his face since the accident. We keep joking that he looks better than most of us, because he looks like he’s glowing a bit. He’s also in good shape, and young.”

Keep the Briley Ohana in your prayers; and donate to Dakota’s recovery here.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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