WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile: Smartphone,Tablet and SMS text Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter RSS News Feed Email List Tumblr


MUSTANG RESTORED
Community Helps Bring A Smile To Hero's Face

Reported by: Send eMail Katy Brown
Videographer: Troy Morgan
Web Producer: Katy Brown
Reported: Nov. 11, 2012 6:31 PM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Hurricane , Putnam County , West Virginia

In Decemeber of 2010, the Brown family lost their home in a fire and almost lost their then 15 year old son, DJ. But this week, with the help of some fellow students, DJ got back something that was thought to be lost in the fire.

"It's just amazing. Speechless. Never thought it'd look this good," said DJ Brown.

Words were hard to find for DJ brown and his father, David Brown, when they both saw the newly vamped Mustang.

"I'm speechless. It's more than we could have ever done with it. I'm just glad he's here to see it."

And for DJ 's dad, this is about more than a car. This is about celebrating his son's life, which was nearly taken two years ago.

"He got called the night he was in, that he was gone. They said he wouldn't make it out of the hospital for a year. He did it in four months."

In 2010 the Brown's house caught fire. DJ ran back inside to save his mother and sister.

At the age of 15, the Hurricane High schooler was considered a hero.

But he was left with third degree burns over most of his body. DJ he fought back and survived.

But his home and his prized car were destroyed.

"They had a house fire. The house was totally burnt down. This car was sitting beside of it," said teacher Terry Rayburn.

That is when the Putnam County Career and Technical Center decided to step in and help DJ out. The automotive class decided to restore DJ 's car and surprise him.

"It was to be handed down I guess from father to son. So DJ was going to get it. One of the students in my class had known about it and had known DJ and he suggested that we fix this car," said Rayburn.

It was a suprising gesture for DJ .

"I didn't know nothing about who brought it in."

And many of those who helped bring his car back to life didn't know DJ . Companies like NAPA, heard his story and stepped up to help.

"It's a life lesson you know for the kids. I mean it really tugged at everyone's heart strings to jump in and help this kid out," said Roger Dunbar of NAPA.

Now seventeen and a student, DJ continues to rehab from the fire but is doing great, as is mom and sister. DJ stays focused on the road and life ahead of him.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
FEDERAL GUILTY PLEAS
Two Executives Plead Guilty To Federal Employment Tax Evasion Charges
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 5:54 PM EDT
Two staffing agency executives have pleaded guilty ...
Full News Story

MASON COUNTY LAYOFFS
New Haven Plant To Temporarily Idle Furnace, Lay Off Union Workers
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 5:47 PM EDT
Felman Production LLC plans to temporarily idle one ...
Full News Story

FATAL ACCIDENT
Summers County Man Dies In Car Crash In Fayette County
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 5:24 PM EDT
A Summers County man was killed Tuesday in a two-car ...
Full News Story



News UMWA President Cecil Roberts Among 14 Arrested At Rally In St. Louis
May. 21, 2013 4:47 PM EDT
News Damage To Ashland Bridge Causes Temporary Weight Restrictions
May. 21, 2013 5:03 PM EDT
News Daylong Standoff Situation In Meigs County Ends Peacefully
May. 21, 2013 4:29 PM EDT
News Fire Chief Says Search Almost Complete In Oklahoma
May. 21, 2013 3:47 PM EDT
News Kentucky Man Charged In Connection With String Of Thefts In Ohio
May. 21, 2013 4:04 PM EDT
News Man Serving Larceny Sentence Escapes From Beckley Correctional Center
May. 21, 2013 2:07 PM EDT
News Kanawha Valley Senior Services Hosts Annual Picnic
May. 21, 2013 1:52 PM EDT
News Police Investigating Shots Fired On West Side Of Charleston
May. 21, 2013 5:09 PM EDT
News Register Early, Save Big For Charleston Distance Run
May. 21, 2013 1:20 PM EDT
News Poca High Seniors Help Elementary Students Have Fun With Science
May. 21, 2013 1:09 PM EDT
News WV Kids Enter Contest To Wish West Virginia Happy Birthday
May. 21, 2013 1:05 PM EDT
News Big Names Coming To Clay Center This Fall
May. 21, 2013 12:45 PM EDT
News Scioto County Man Charged In Burglary, Car Break-Ins
May. 21, 2013 12:56 PM EDT
News Members, Coaches Of WVU Baseball Team Lend A Hand In Aftermath Of Okla. Tornado
May. 21, 2013 6:18 PM EDT
News Boyd County Man Charged With Trafficking Heroin
May. 21, 2013 11:32 AM EDT
News Relief Organizations Providing Options For You To Help Residents In Okla.
May. 21, 2013 12:33 PM EDT
News Man Sentenced In Death Of Man Struck By Cinder Block
May. 21, 2013 12:38 PM EDT
News Charleston Man Arrested After Detectives Say Gun, Drugs Found Inside Vehicle
May. 21, 2013 10:47 AM EDT
News State Police Search For Suspect After Meth Lab Discovery
May. 21, 2013 10:01 AM EDT
News Scholarships Set Up To Support Children Of Fallen Officers
May. 21, 2013 10:56 AM EDT
News Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Charleston Child Neglect Case
May. 21, 2013 9:03 AM EDT
News State Division Of Highways Stressing Work Zone Safety
May. 21, 2013 9:29 AM EDT
News Vehicle Spotted Submerged In Guyandotte River
May. 21, 2013 9:10 AM EDT
News Kanawha County Firefighters Battle East Bank Structure Fire
May. 21, 2013 12:43 PM EDT
News One Person Dies In Head-On Collision; Juvenile Seriously Injured
May. 21, 2013 3:31 PM EDT
News Victim Identified In Elkview Murder
May. 20, 2013 11:15 PM EDT
News Federal Agents Investigating Public Officials In Mingo County, Sources Say
May. 21, 2013 10:05 AM EDT
News Students' Prank Prohibits Them From Walking Graduation Night
May. 21, 2013 12:46 PM EDT
News Bees Swarm From Tree In Huntington, Sting Several People
May. 20, 2013 5:58 PM EDT
News Project Is In The Works To Widen Heavily-Traveled Section Of Highway
May. 20, 2013 4:48 PM EDT


Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
2 W.Va. staffing agency execs plead to tax evasion

Two staffing agency executives have pleaded guilty to federal employment tax evasion charges.
Full Story

Kentucky News
EKU giving buyout packages to 127 workers

Eastern Kentucky University says it's giving buyout packages to 127 employees who applied for them and were accepted.
Full Story

Ohio News
Ohio lawmakers advance Internet cafe crackdown

An effective ban on Internet cafes targeted as illegal gambling has cleared an Ohio Senate committee and is headed for a floor vote Wednesday.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 21, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 16, 2013
Shoney's-Charleston, Hibachi, Blues BBQ makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.