A beloved father and off-road enthusiast known as PlaidWagon remains in the hospital fighting for recovery after his Toyota Land Cruiser rolled following a collision with a loose horse on Interstate 70 near Fruita. In just 72 hours, friends and complete strangers have poured more than $42,000 into a GoFundMe to ease the crushing medical and family bills ahead.
What Happened on That Dark Sunday Morning
Colorado State Patrol says the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 9, 2025, in the eastbound lanes of I-70 just west of Fruita. A horse that had escaped its pasture wandered onto the freeway and was first struck by a pickup truck. Moments later, Kyle Freud, driving his lifted 80-series Land Cruiser, hit the animal and lost control. The Cruiser rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof.
Troopers confirmed Freud was wearing his seatbelt and that speed was not a factor. He was airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction with severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, a shattered hand that requires reconstruction, and a traumatic brain injury.
The Man Everyone Calls “One of the Good Ones”
Kyle Freud, 41, is a husband to Jessica and father to six children ranging from toddler to teenager. In the tight-knit Colorado Land Cruiser and overland community, he’s better known as PlaidWagon, the guy who always shows up early to help with trail repairs, cooks breakfast for 50 people at camp, and never lets anyone get left behind on the trail.
“Kyle is the most genuine human I’ve ever met,” says Seena Miremadi, who started the GoFundMe minutes after learning his friend was the victim. “This is a guy who would give you the shirt off his back, and now he needs us.”
How the Community Stepped Up in Hours
By Sunday night the fundraiser titled “Help Kyle Freud (PlaidWagon) Recover from Accident” had already passed $17,000. By Wednesday evening it crossed $42,500 and keeps climbing.
Donations have come from every corner of the overlanding world:
- Rising Sun 4WD Club in Denver
- Cruisers on the Rocks
- Bookcliff Cruisers in Grand Junction
- Cruise Moab attendees from as far as Florida and Canada
- Total strangers who simply read “father of six” and hit donate
Latest Update from Jessica Freud
Jessica posted on the GoFundMe Wednesday afternoon:
“He is awake, talking, and even cracked a joke today, which is the Kyle we all know and love. He still has zero memory of the crash and is dealing with post-traumatic amnesia, but every day he’s more himself. Hand surgery went well today. We are overwhelmed by the love and support. Thank you will never be enough.”
Kyle faces at least three more surgeries in the coming weeks plus extensive physical therapy and months away from work.
A Reminder for All of Us on Western Colorado Roads
Loose livestock on I-70 is tragically common between Grand Junction and the Utah line. In the last five years, Colorado State Patrol has responded to more than 180 vehicle-vs-livestock crashes in Mesa and Garfield counties alone. Many end in totaled vehicles and life-changing injuries.
Drivers are reminded to slow down at night and in early morning hours, especially in open-range areas where cattle and horses can appear without warning.
The outpouring for Kyle Freud shows the best of our community when one of our own is hurting. From trail families to people who have never met him, thousands have stepped up to make sure this father of six comes home to his kids and gets back on the trail where he belongs.
What Kyle and Jessica are feeling right now is bigger than any dollar amount. It’s proof that when tragedy strikes, this corner of Colorado still shows up for each other.
If you’d like to help, search “Help Kyle Freud PlaidWagon” on GoFundMe. Every share and every dollar is lifting a family that needs it right now.
