STEVE ENGEL UPDATE 9-4-2008
Thu, 2008-09-04 16:28
Pro Mod racer Steve Engel remains in critical
condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Methodist Hospital after suffering a
high-speed accident Saturday evening at the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Engel's Corvette went out of control near the top end of the quarter-mile
and impacted the retaining wall so severely that all racing action was halted
for the evening as safety crews worked to repair the damage. Engel, meanwhile,
was airlifted to Methodist Hospital by medical helicopter.
According to his wife Tonya, Engel suffered damage to six vertebrae in his
spine. As a precaution and to keep him from moving and further complicating his
injuries, he's been medically sedated since doctors first examined him.
An initial surgery was preformed to repair two of the vertebrae. As doctors
waited for swelling in the area to subside, Engel developed fluid in one of his
lungs, which has delayed further repairs.
Erroneous reports of Engel being completely paralyzed are unfounded,
according to Tonya. It is simply far too early in the process to make such
determinations. His team of doctors remains hopeful that once all the repairs
are made he'll be able to make large strides towards a full recovery. The best
news is that Engel's spinal canal was not compromised.
"Everyone is very concerned about Steve's condition," said JEGS Director of
Media Scott Woodruff. "We're all praying for a complete recovery, and we're
keeping Tonya and the rest of Steve's family and team in our thoughts and urge
others to do so.
"It's shocking to all of us when something like this happens. Although
everyone knows the inherit risks involved with our sport, it's still hard to
take when something does happen. That was a bad wreck; one of the worse many of
us had ever seen. The fact he's alive is a miracle in itself. Thank goodness for
all the safety things we have in place.
"We call on everyone to keep Steve and Tonya in their prayers."
Engel won his first race on the JEGS ProMod Challenge earlier this year in
Bristol, Tenn. The 49-year-old from Shandon, Ohio, owns and operates Diamond
Heavy Haul, a trucking and trailer manufacturing business. He has two sons,
Steve Jr. and Mikey.
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