Ford Substitutes US Marine's Damaged F-150 Raptor With a 720-HP Raptor R

Ford Substitutes US Marine’s Damaged F-150 Raptor With a 720-HP Raptor R

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Marine Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews from the United States Marine Corps was in Afghanistan aiding the evacuation of the Kabul airport following the Taliban’s seizure in 2021 when suicide bombers attacked, resulting in the deaths of 183 individuals. Vargas-Andrews sustained severe injuries and regained consciousness a week later at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, recuperating from injuries caused by 100 to 150 ball bearings. He underwent two amputations, losing his right arm below the elbow and his entire left leg

For having survived such a harrowing ordeal, Vargas-Andrews decided to treat himself and purchased a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor which featured a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. He recounted how the truck saved his life in a collision a few months ago, when he was struck by a careless driver.

Now retired, the former soldier shared with the Detroit Free Press that he embarked on several cross-country journeys in the Raptor, traveling from Virginia to California, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming for off-road adventures, truly putting the truck through its paces. The Raptor became Vargas-Andrews’ pride and joy for an illustrious five months until a 2017 Nissan Murano collided with the truck, resulting in the total loss of his beloved red Raptor.

On Thanksgiving Day last year, while stuck in traffic on the Interstate in Virginia, Vargas-Andrews noticed a rapidly approaching black SUV in his rearview mirror. With no means to avoid the impending crash, the Murano rammed into the truck from behind, causing the Raptor to veer across multiple lanes and spin around.

Subsequently, State Troopers informed Vargas-Andrews that the SUV driver faced charges of reckless/negligent driving, yet this did not resurrect his truck. He shared the incident on his Instagram account @whistlingdeath, mentioning Ford and Ford Performance, prompting numerous users to tag the company. The post caught the attention of Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Director, who escalated the matter to executive chair Bill Ford.

The great-grandson of Henry Ford intervened, inviting Vargas-Andrews to select “the Raptor of his dreams” and visit Dearborn, Michigan. By the time Vargas-Andrews departed Michigan, he had chosen a brand-new 2024 Raptor R, featuring a supercharged V8 engine with 720 hp—a 270-hp upgrade from his previous Raptor. Throughout this process, he enjoyed a tour of the Dearborn plant, meeting Bill Ford, Ford CEO Jim Farley, and a multitude of Blue Oval employees.

The resident of Virginia will take possession at a local dealership once it comes off the assembly line soon, expressing his profound gratitude for the opportunity.

“The entire experience rendered me speechless,” expressed Vargas-Andrews to the Detroit Free Press. “It may be a small gesture to them, but to me, it signifies everything. I’ve had comrades perish within arm’s reach of me. I’ve lost a multitude of my organs. Every day is a gift to me. Life may knock you down, but how you opt to lift yourself up is what matters.”

Kudos to Ford. It is heartening to witness someone who truly warrants a break receive such a significant one.

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