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| | Friday, January 21 | |||||
| ST. LOUIS -- An Indy Racing League driver paralyzed in a
testing accident earlier this month was being transferred to a new
hospital Tuesday night.
Sam Schmidt, who was injured Jan. 6 in Orlando, Fla., was due to
arrive at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He had been staying
in Orlando's Regional Medical Center.
Schmidt's family and friends chose the St. Louis hospital because of a program there that specializes in spine injuries.
Schmidt, 35, sustained a spinal fracture in an accident during
an IRL Open test at Walt Disney World Speedway's one-mile oval. He
is breathing with the aid of a respirator but is awake and aware of
his surroundings, team spokeswoman Ruthie Culbertson said.
A neurosurgeon used a pin and a bone graft to fuse two of
Schmidt's vertebrae during surgery the day of the race. He
continues to suffer paralysis from the neck down but is upbeat
about his transfer, Culbertson said.
"Lets rock and roll," mouthed Schmidt, who is still unable to
speak due to the respirator. "I want to get going."
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