Alaska News

Wasilla actor Sam Allred injured in four-wheeler accident

Mat-Su actor and children's health advocate Sam Allred, 15, was seriously injured in a four-wheeler accident early Friday.

Allred, who has a rare kidney disease, IgM nephropathy, gained national fame before his 10th birthday when a video of him singing "The Cuppycake Song" went viral on the Internet. Among the comments posted to the clip were several remarks that derided his chubbiness. Abnormal water retention is one of the symptoms of the disease.

Allred responded by starting his own organization, Kindness for Kids, to educate people about the condition and show support for other children with the disease. He has since been interviewed by celebrity talk show hosts including Jimmy Kimmel and Tyra Banks. He is also involved in Project Comfort, which gives pillows to children in hospitals.

He is well known locally as an actor, having appeared in several productions at Valley Performing Arts. He had the role of Norm, the cranky, tin-foil-beanie-wearing kid in "Moose: The Movie."

Scott Allred, Sam's father, said the accident happened around midnight when Sam was on a Fourth of July outing on the Kenai Peninsula. He was riding the four-wheeler with his brother Tom, 11, when it rolled about a mile and a half from the family's fishing campsite. Other riders saw the accident from a distance and went to help, bringing Tom, who was less seriously injured, back to the campsite and taking family members to Sam. Tom was taken to the hospital by ambulance and Sam was transported by air.

Sam suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs, a skull fracture and bleeding of the lungs, his sister-in-law Amanda Allred wrote in an online post. As of 2:45 p.m. on Friday, he had undergone surgery at Providence Alaska Medical Center and was said to be in stable but serious condition.

Tom had minor injuries and was not hospitalized.

Reach Mike Dunham at mdunham@alaskadispatch.com or 257-4332.

Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham has been a reporter and editor at the ADN since 1994, mainly writing about culture, arts and Alaska history. He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print.

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