Surf Royalty “Fighting for His Life” After Freak Car Collision

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 2:04 PM ET

Over the weekend, a tragic accident happened on the North Shore of Oahu. Dakota Briley, son of legendary Pipeline surfer Shawn Briley, and a charger himself, was hit by a car on Kamehameha Highway while allegedly loading surfboards into a vehicle. Dakota, 20, was rushed to the hospital.

Currently, Dakota is in the ICU in Honolulu, where he is “fighting for his life.” According to a GoFundMe account created to address the anticipated medical bills to keep Dakota alive, his injuries are extensive: “Dakota is suffering from multiple fractures in his legs, pelvis, ribs, and skull. His spine has also endured unthinkable injuries. Thankfully his incredible medical team were able to stabilize his legs and are now working tirelessly on multiple surgeries to the rest of his body.”

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Shawn, Dakota’s father, is the stuff of legend out at Pipeline. Throughout his reign of supremacy in the 1990s at the world’s most dangerous surf spot, he gained a reputation as one of the best to ever surf the spot. His story was one of rags to riches, going from welfare checks to a contract with Quiksilver.

Per Matt Warshaw’s 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, and as a surfer uniquely dedicated to high-risk excitement of any kind. He went left at Waimea Bay, and had a habit of pulling into huge, hopeless Pipeline closeouts… 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 his son, Dakota, it appears he’s been following in his father’s hard-charging footsteps.

On the crowdfunding page, Dakota’s brother Ryder wrote: "At times he appears as so solid, it's hard to handle, but I know that his stubbornness, strength and the fight he has in him is what is going to get him through this. We believe he will get through this. He has a lot more battles to fight through, and if anyone can do it…it's Dakota.”

Massive prayers go out to the Briley Ohana. And support Dakota in his recovery here.

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

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