A 21-year-old man from Eau Claire, Wis., was critically injured recently in a motorcycle accident in Chippewa Falls, Wis., authorities said. The soldier came to a T-intersection, police said, but instead of turning, he drove straight into a steel building.

He has shown signs of improvement, his family said, but it is still a very serious situation. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, his family reported. His family said they hope to encourage other motorcyclists to wear helmets when riding.