Aric Almirola Released From Hospital But Sustains Injury In Kansas Speedway Crash

by May 14, 2017 0 comments

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Richard Petty Motorsports’ Aric Almirola sustained a compression fracture to his T5 Vertebra in the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday night.

During a crash that brought out a caution on lap 201, a mechanical failure on Joey Logano’s car caused him to clip Danica Patrick, sending both cars hard into the outside wall in Turn 1. With nowhere to go, Almirola in the No. 43 Smithfield Ford Fusion made hard impact with both, Logano and Patrick. The collision was so intense that Almirola’s car got off the ground, and sparks and fire engulfed the three cars.

When the cars came to a halt, Almirola was the only driver who didn’t climb from the cockpit. Almirola did put his window net down, but he stayed in his car. As safety crews assessed the situation, the decision was made to remove Almirola from the car with assistance. The roof was cut off, and Almirola was placed onto a stretcher and flown to a local hospital, where he stayed overnight for observation. Almirola was conscious throughout the extraction thanks to NASCAR significantly improving the safety of the cars, the walls and procedures in recent years. Following the crash, Logano asked everyone on Twitter to pray for his fellow competitor.

https://twitter.com/joeylogano/status/863589951123992576

On Sunday morning, Richard Petty Motorsports issued the following statement:

“Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, has been released from a local Kansas hospital and will fly back to his home in Mooresville, N.C. today.

 

“Almirola suffered a compression fracture to his T5 Vertebra after a multi-car accident at Kansas Speedway Saturday night.  Almirola is mobile and will follow-up with his doctors in Charlotte.

 

“Richard Petty Motorsports will provide further updates when available.”

Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images

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