He overcame a life-threatening car accident that landed him in a wheelchair and left scars on his arms and legs.

It could have either broken his spirit – or made him hungrier to live life to the fullest.

Stefano Langone, a former Bellevue College student, chose the latter route and now has now made it through the initial Hollywood Week round on “American Idol.”

Langone, who performed with Bellevue College’s Celebration! vocal jazz ensemble all three years he was a student there, was injured in a car crash on May 28, 2009. Doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to walk.

Instead, Langone was back on his feet within four months and this year sailed through the “American Idol” audition in San Francisco with three “yeses” from the judges. He’s now one of the top 40 competing for this year’s title.