John Dahlman is thankful for many things going into 2025. But at the top of his list is that the crash that destroyed his truck — which was also his home — did not leave him without his best friend, a 5-year-old white shepherd and husky mix, Skye.
“I feel blessed that he’s alive because he means the world to me, and that I’m alive,” said Dahlman. “And I’m glad the other driver is alive. I wouldn’t want that to be anyone else’s Christmas nightmare … I’m just glad we are here to get our lives back together.”
Dahlman is a Loveland resident who had been working hard to get his life back in order after a string of challenges and after moving here from out of state. He had found a great job and, though he was living in his truck for the past 22 months, he had saved up $2,500 to get an apartment. “It’s become quite a journey,” said Dahlman.
Then on Dec. 10, as he was headed to Fort Collins to visit a friend, those plans changed in a moment of crunching metal and crashing glass.
He was driving north on U.S. 287 when a vehicle turned onto the road southbound in his lane. Dahlman wasn’t sure what to do to avoid the crash, so he swerved left. Unfortunately, the other driver — a 40-year-old Loveland man — swerved to his right and the vehicles crashed.
“They hit head-on,” confirmed Colorado State Patrol Trooper Sherri Mendez.
The other driver was taken to the hospital with “serious injuries,” she said, and he was charged in the crash with DUI, careless driving and open container. Court records show he is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Jan. 7.
While Dahlman was not injured, his dog, Skye, who was in the passenger seat, was. When the crash happened, Dahlman described how Skye hit the windshield and then flew into the back seat; he was lying there, looking around but unable to move.
“The windshield was broken and the dash was just crushed,” Dahlman described. “He wound up in the back seat but was just curled up. He was looking around but not moving.”
With the help of a friend, Dahlman rushed Skye to VCA Veterinary Specialists in Loveland, where he was given what Dahlman described as top-notch, loving care.
“He was bleeding internally and had bruised lungs,” Dahlman said. “He was in pretty grave danger when he was brought in. … They said he had air in his chest. They had to put a chest tube in. He didn’t have any broken bones, which is just amazing …”
There was never any doubt in his mind that he would do whatever he could to save his buddy; he put the $2,500 as a deposit on Skye’s medical care and moved forward.
A friend shared his challenges on Facebook and the community stepped forward to help through a GoFundMe, which covered nearly all of the remaining $7,000 medical bill and remains active to help John get back on his feet.
Others also stepped in financially and with other help; friends described how people were calling the veterinarian’s office and paying what they could to help cover Skye’s bills. And, his friends, coworkers and even strangers who saw his posts on Facebook came together to offer encouragement and kind words.
The support, financial and emotional, has helped take a huge burden off his shoulders, he said.
“I’m still getting reactions … I just appreciate it so much,” said Dahlman. “I’ve seen people reach out for help on Lovelanders before. The community always comes together. I wasn’t expecting that. Loveland is a great place to be. It gives me a different outlook on helping others, too. I hope I can get myself to a place in life where I can give $500 to someone else.”
“It’s just been an amazing thing from something so tragic,” said Dahlman, who works as a peer recovery specialist. “It’s an entire community coming together for me. I’m so thankful for that.”
One of his coworkers, Jodi Montez, spoke of how much he gives to his friends and family and to others through his work. She stepped up to create the GoFundMe to bring his giving full circle.
“He just has the biggest heart,” Montez said. “The guy has more compassion and empathy for people. He just does so much for everyone else.”
Dahlman, who is staying with a friend, said he is back at work after the crash and is saving to buy himself another vehicle and starting over at saving for a place to live. He’s looking forward with a positive attitude.
“The way I live, I feel like I’m kind of nobody sometimes because I live in my vehicle,” Dahlman said. “I just kind of exist in the community. This kind of made me feel like part of the community.”
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.