Newlywed fighting for his life after freak tractor accident just three weeks after he got married

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:23, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 18:24, 6 April 2026 A newlywed from Georgia is fighting for his life following a freak tractor accident just three weeks after he got married.  Hilton Lane, 36, married the 'love of his life' in early March before he was crushed by a tractor and left in critical condition. Lane, who owns Bud's Blue Collar Grill near the border of Alabama, married Kelsie less than three weeks before the tractor fell on top of him on March 29, according to an online fundraiser.  'He suffered numerous injuries and is currently in the critical care unit,' the page added.  The fundraiser garnered over $32,400 in donations as of Monday afternoon.   Family members told WOWT that he was able to call his new wife for help while stuck underneath the tractor.  Emergency responders found Lane and he was transported to a nearby hospital in Dothan, Alabama, where he remains in the intensive care unit, the outlet reported.  His family has stayed by his side, while his restaurant closed its doors on March 30 for family, friends and customers to gather in prayer.  Hilton Lane, 36, married the 'love of his life' just weeks before he was crushed by a tractor and left in critical condition Lane, who owns Bud's Blue Collar Grill, married Kelsie, seen right, less than three weeks before the tractor fell on top of him on March 29 Emergency responders found Lane after he was able to call his new wife from under the tractor and he was transported to hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit 'It was nothing short of amazing,' Lane's cousin, Joshua Suggs, told the outlet. 'Everybody dropped what they were doing in the middle of the day to come do something that they believed in, which was Hilton.' 'I think it's a direct reflection of who he is and how he's touched lives.'  The fundraiser described Lane as 'incredibly selfless' and someone who 'constantly puts others before himself, often without fanfare.' 'Hilton gives to his small community in southwest Georgia in a way that is noticed,' Suggs wrote on the fundraiser.  'Now, he needs our help. As a small business owner, the medical costs of what is to come will be enormous.'  In an update on Thursday, Suggs said that 'the outpouring of love, prayers and contributions is overwhelming.' 'We know Hilton has many obstacles ahead, with every new medical update providing another hurdle that he will need to climb,' the update continued.  Kristen Drexler, a coworker of Lane's, wrote on Facebook: 'Any time I worked with Hilton I knew it was gonna be a good day if not also extremely entertaining. He always made us laugh but was also there when we needed a shoulder to cry on. This news was truly heartbreaking.' Lane's restaurant closed its doors on March 30 for family, friends and customers to gather in prayer, as seen above  The fundraiser described Lane as 'incredibly selfless' and someone who 'constantly puts others before himself, often without fanfare' Donna Williams Lane, Lane's mother seen right, said that Lane's new wife Kelsie has remained by his side every night after the pair married less than a month ago 'He is strong, stubborn, and doesn't know when to quit. Don't give up on him just yet,' she added.  Donna Williams Lane, Lane's mother, wrote on Facebook: 'Less than a month ago, she became my daughter-in-law. None of us could have imagined how quickly “for better or worse” would be tested.'  'I know she’s scared and uncertain of the days to come, but she has been by his side every night. I pray God continues to give her the courage to face the unknown,' she added.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.