Posted on 06/13/2006 3:19:54 PM PDT by Dane
Big Ben Upgraded To Fair Condition Roethlisberger Is Awake And Oriented
POSTED: 4:14 pm EDT June 13, 2006 UPDATED: 5:29 pm EDT June 13, 2006
PITTSBURGH -- Doctors held a news conference Tuesday afternoon at Mercy Hospital to provide an update on Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s medical condition.
The hospital has officially updated his condition from serious but stable to fair.
Ben was transferred from the recovery room to an undisclosed unit at the hospital. He is awake, alert, oriented and resting with his family by his side.
The upgrade means Ben’s vital signs are stable and his recovery is progressing as expected.
If all goes as planned he could be released in the next three to five days.
The family permitted his doctors to release a list of his injuries. It includes fractures to his upper and lower jaw, mild concussion, a fractured nose, fractured facial bones, multiple head lacerations, multiple abrasions/contusions, loss of two teeth, chipped several teeth and no evidence of any major structural damage to either knees. A CT scan of the brain showed no injury.
Roethlisberger underwent seven hours of surgery Monday to repair the injuries he suffered during the accident.
The hospital said the next update of Ben’s condition will be Wednesday at a yet to be determined time.
Channel 11’s Rick Earle learned Tuesday afternoon that Ben did not have a motorcycle license at the time of his accident on Monday.
Earle’s source also said that Big Ben did not have a motorcycle learner's permit.
Pittsburgh Police and PennDOT Police did not comment.
The crash happened under the Parkway East as Ben was traveling east on Second Avenue downtown near the Armstrong Tunnel.
The other car was traveling inbound on Second Avenue, and made a left turn onto the 10th Street Bridge. That's when it collided with Big Ben's bike. Police say Ben was not wearing a helmet.
Right now, the driver of the other car – a 62-year-old woman -- has not been charged.
The sport bike Ben was riding was a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa.
The motorcycle is said to be one of the fastest on the market, with top speeds of at least 200 mph. The bike lists for just over $11,000.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage of this major local story throughout the day
There can be much debate later about the motorcycle helmet issue, and hoping for a full recovery for Ben.
He'll heal up fairly quickly being a very young man. I do have doubts about his ability to return to full contact this year but we shall see. My next door neighbor is the worlds' biggest Steelers fan and I've been wondering if it would be appropriate to send some flowers or something.
Motorcycles...I have 4 boys and never allowed them to have one...because I did.......
daily updates on a football player..lol..but glad he ok..now why was he so stupid
In Pittsburgh and the NFL world it's big news, but I can understand your cynicism. And I agree there are much bigger things in the world than the NFL and celebrity culture for sure, but his accident does shine a light on the motorcycle issue and professional sports in general.
Bob Dylan I beleive had a bad motorcycle accident back in the 60's, and if the internet had been around back then it would be a big story, IMO.
Of course Bod Dylan didn't make a living going on the field and having the chance his head would be bashed after every snap.
Thanks.
jm
For him, it was nearly a 2006 Sayonara...
Well, God bless you and your four boys. I'd think any parent would be concerned when their child decided to get a motorcycle.
But hopefully all the safety training and safety equipment makes it manageable.
And then, as long as weather is good and other drivers are sane, risks are minimized.
+* +* +*
[I like your tagline. I ALWAYS check FR when I'm online, too, even if I don't feel inclined to say much.]
+* +* +*
Cheerio,
jm
That has always been a bad intersection. Pittsburgh used to have a cop stationed there that became famous for waiving his hands and flagging people to keep up their pace during work traffic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.