Colin O'Connell - Accident

Judi Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu May 10, 2012 4:45 pm

Very cool! Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress!

RobLupella · **Posted:** Thu May 10, 2012 8:15 pm

ColinOConnell wrote:

Thanks for all of the positive thoughts.... and for the flowers from THSCC. I thought I'd update the thread.

I transferred from Winchester Medical Center near Summit Point to Pinehurst (Moore Regional) Hospital on Tuesday. A long ride, but worth it. Started Physical Therapy yesterday and everything is improving quickly. There's still a bit of weakness in the legs, but motor control and numbness are much better today. I should be out of the PT ward and sleeping at home by Wednesday. It may be months before I'm back to normal, but I should be 90% there in another week or two.

You need a pedal setup so you can practice your fine motor control by heel and toeing

:thumbsup:

WalterHouston · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2012 8:54 am

Great news! Good Luck.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2012 7:45 pm

Colin,

This is fantastic news! Keep it up -- sounds like you and Les both are making excellent progress although I'm sure there is a lot unsaid about the pain and difficulties you guys have faced. We're all thinking about you guys and pulling for you. As Rob alluded to, trying to finely modulate an iRacing brake pedal sure will build fine motor skills.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 6:44 am

Great news Colin! Glad you are back in NC!

Brian Marks · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 12:54 pm

Wow, shocking, but glad to hear you're getting better. VERY GLAD to hear you're not more seriously hurt or worse. Hope to see you soon!

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Any word on Colin lately?

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:23 am

Sorry for the silence and thanks for asking. I'm doing great. Still working on the recovery, but I am getting back to semi-normal. I use a cane most of the time, but I am walking around fairly well. Now it's just a matter of keeping at the therapy and continuing the progress.

Here's what the car looked like.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:38 am

Colin,
I am really glad to see your progress.

And the car is something to look at. It really shows how well the safety stuff really works.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:51 am

eh, that should buff right out.................... :eek:

glad to see you are up and around again.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Glad you're doing well.

Could you please post close-up pictures of the cage, especially cage design around the fail points? You might just save someone else injuries in the future if you do. Thanks

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:25 am

Glad you are doing well. Its quite amazing that you can even stand after seeing the remnants of your car.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:33 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Glad you're doing well.

Could you please post close-up pictures of the cage, especially cage design around the fail points? You might just save someone else injuries in the future if you do. Thanks

Just for reference they had to cut him out. The top of the cage and roof were removed.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:33 am

Yeah, I could have made that clear. They had to cut the top off the car to get me out.

I hit the wall straight on in turn 1 at Summit Point. It was a hard hit, but not 'that hard' and I should have walked away from it. During the impact my upper body was held in place, but the lap belt (although tight) allowed my lower body to move forward. I remember the feeling of the sub-straps catching me. The pivoting motion completely disintegrated my T12 vertebrae, paralyzing me from the waist down. The only way to get me out of the car was to lift me up and out. Thankfully, the EV workers did everything perfectly and I'm walking today because of that.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:52 pm

ColinOConnell wrote:

Yeah, I could have made that clear. They had to cut the top off the car to get me out.

I hit the wall straight on in turn 1 at Summit Point. It was a hard hit, but not 'that hard' and I should have walked away from it. During the impact my upper body was held in place, but the lap belt (although tight) allowed my lower body to move forward. I remember the feeling of the sub-straps catching me. The pivoting motion completely disintegrated my T12 vertebrae, paralyzing me from the waist down. The only way to get me out of the car was to lift me up and out. Thankfully, the EV workers did everything perfectly and I'm walking today because of that.

Good medical care and transport FTW. If you're not comfortable with a full-on post-incident review, or posting details that's cool and perfectly understandable...but I was wondering what the cause of your "off" was--brake failure? Loss of grip? Pushed offline? Earlier it was mentioned as either brakes or hydroplane, but I was curious if any details had surfaced since then. Thanks.

Very glad to see you upright!

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Colin O'Connell - Accident

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