David Petruska

Thanks for the update Al, please pass along my get-well-soons; Dave's been in my thoughts all week.

~Austin

David P. Update, 10/5:
David is generally improved over the last 24 hours. He is speaking, still quite hoarse, asking appropriate questions and answering questions correctly. he still has occasional episodes of confusion and agitation, some of which may have to do with his pain level (3 broken ribs) or the pain meds, and some may be due to his lung congestion and difficulty with clearing due to lack of an effective cough. He is hungry, but will have to pass a "swallow test" before being fed; it is to be done tomorrow. He still sleeps quite a bit, is very uncomfortable being in bed and is quite fatigued in general. On the whole, fair progress since yesterday.
Al

Thank you again for the update.
We're all thinking about him.
J~

Al, Thanks for keeping us posted. Dave is in all our thoughts.

I'm glad to hear that the recovery is going well. Keep it up Dave.

Al,

I assume David is still at SCMC? Will he stay there for the duration of his care until he is ready to head home? He has always seemed in great physical shape which I assume will help in his recovery. I can't imagine what it's like for him to be on the other side of the clipboard Thanks Al, really appreciate the time to keep us updated!

On Sunday, 10/2, during the Group 7 race, David was involved in a serious crash in the the Corkscrew at Laguna. He lost control and the car hit a wall at speed and ricocheted across the track (per information gleaned from witnesses). All who were involved in that race could probably see the extensive damage to the left side of the car, off at driver's right at the approach to turn 9. After initial stabilization by the paramedics on-scene, he was air-lifted to Santa Clara Valley Med Center in San Jose, where he was admitted to the Surgical ICU under the care of the Trauma and Neurosurgical services. David sustained serious injuries to his head, chest, neck and hip. he is presently in a medically stable condition, but remains unconscious. He appears able to move all his extremities normally.

So sorry to hear about David. Glad he has been extubated. Scary stuff. It sounds like he had a similar, but more vicious hit to mine earlier this year. Side impact into concrete wall with broken ribs. I agree with the sentiment of adding tires along the entire walls. I have to wonder if he was using a rib crusher Kirkey seat vs a full containment seat. Anyway, I'm wishing for a full and speedy recovery.

Pete

Please add me to the long list of well-wishers. David's progress over the last three days is very encouraging.

Ray

Fingers crossed for a continued speedy recovery

Wow, sounds like great progress! Go get 'em, Dave!

Thanks for the continuing updates Al. See you out there soon David!

Joe

You know when Steve Matchett gets all excited watching a driver go on a charge and he goes, "Go on, son!" I'm doing one of those for Dave. Good to hear of progress.

Dave update for 10/6:
Seemed a bit more sleepy and confused thru the night last night, but today improved steadily to the point of being able to eat and talking more, even joking with family. still quite weak and in moderate amount of pain, but, all in all, doing significantly better than yesterday. will probably be transferred out of the ICU within the next 24 hours.
Al

What a relief! Thanks for the update

Was Mr. Petruska driving an SM?

Was Mr. Petruska driving an SM?

Yes - he hit the drivers right wall between 8/9 at Laguna Seca.

As unfortunate an event as this has been, it has made several people reconsider their safety equipment.

Dan, could you be more specific on what people are thinking. Was there a deformation of the seat that caused some of the injuries? Also I've looked at many full containment seat mounts in SM and I'm still not sure the left side can be effective since the roll bar is in the way. Has anybody considered installing a left side driver net? Those seem to have growing popularity in the pro ranks.

Hope you're feeling better soon David!!!

-bw

Dan, could you be more specific on what people are thinking. Was there a deformation of the seat that caused some of the injuries? Also I've looked at many full containment seat mounts in SM and I'm still not sure the left side can be effective since the roll bar is in the way. Has anybody considered installing a left side driver net? Those seem to have growing popularity in the pro ranks.

Hope you're feeling better soon David!!

-bw

Obviously, a valuable discussion, but it belongs in its own thread in the Safety forum. Would like to keep this thread clear for further updates on Dave's condition. Besides, any safety improvement discussions deserve the full MR.com audience, and for archival in the correct location.

NOTE: Charlie Hayes reported that Dave did NOT have a containment seat, but wore a DefnDer.

Friday, 10/7 update:
Aside from episodes of confusion, most prominent at night and early mornings, David is improving slowly. He remains quite weak and tired, sleeps quite a bit and still has a very weak voice. During periods of lucidity, he is aware of his situation, his surroundings, recognizes people and asks some reasonable questions. He is eating well. He has been transferred to Kaiser San Francisco, but remains in the ICU, so visitation should still be considered limited to family.
Al

This update from Donna Porter via Facebook:

Friends of Petruska. As I leave SCVMC, he was considered stable enough to transfer to SF Kaiser ICU. I made sure the CCRN knew everything. can't help it. He is making small improvements each day which in ICU talk is good. Still limiting visitors till out of ICU. But I tell him each visit how much all his racer friends are thinking of him, naming each of you. Keep prayers coming.