Ben Whorton Accident, Boat Operator Faces Arrest Warrant After Accident Leaves Ben Whorton Fighting for His Life

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (KATV) — More than a year after a devastating boating accident, new legal action has been taken in the case of Ben Whorton, the Russellville man who continues to defy the odds.

Whorton, now 21, was duck hunting with friends on January 10, 2025, when the boat sped beneath a low bridge. He struck his head, suffering a catastrophic traumatic brain injury that doctors initially believed he would not survive.

Placed on life support and rushed through multiple emergency brain surgeries, Ben was repeatedly declared unlikely to live. At one critical moment, doctors prepared to perform a brain-death test—until he suddenly coughed, signaling life.

Over the next year, Ben endured unimaginable complications, including the removal of half his skull, shunts to drain fluid from his brain, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and Sunken Flap Syndrome. Each setback tested his limits, yet he continued to fight.

Today, Ben is home with his family, his longtime girlfriend, and his dogs. Though unable to speak, he communicates by turning his head and shows relentless determination in therapy, never choosing to stop despite the pain.

Now, prosecutors say an arrest warrant has been issued for Zac Raines, who was operating the boat at the time of the crash. He faces multiple charges related to negligent boat operation, excessive speed near a bridge, and lack of proper insurance.

As Ben’s recovery continues, his family urges hunters and boaters to follow safety laws—hoping no one else has to endure the life-altering trauma Ben Whorton survived.