Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.
Cristiano da Matta seriously injured after colliding with deer
Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta was seriously injured yesterday when he collided with a deer that had wandered onto the track during a practice session at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The unconscious da Matta suffered head injuries and was medevaced to Theda Clark Medical Center.A CT scan showed that he had a subdural hematoma, and emergency surgery was performed to remove it. According to his RuSPORT team, da Matta is currently recovering in the intensive care unit, where he'll be monitored 24/7.
Deer strikes are dangerous enough in regular passenger vehicles, so we shudder to think how much worse it must be in a an open-wheel racer traveling at very high speeds. According to Motorsport.com, the deer impacted on the right side of da Matta's car and landed near the cockpit.
[Source: RuSPORT, Motorsport.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
All World Automotive 1:32PM (8/04/2006)
You always have to watch them deer when your in the midwest here. I just never thought I would hear about one wandering onto the track while cars were practicing. You'd think they would be smarter
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Perry 1:40PM (8/04/2006)
It happened yesterday.
Road America is a very fast race track with long straights. I could only imagine it must be a nasty scene of accident to suffer that kind of injury.
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Corey W. 1:44PM (8/04/2006)
Wow!! What is the layout of the property? How does a dear get on a closed track?
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Alex Nunez 1:52PM (8/04/2006)
Thanks Perry. When I originally penned this, it was still yesterday, hence the apparent discrepancy. I've corrected the post to avoid further confusion.
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Alex 3:36PM (8/04/2006)
Get Well soon Cristiano.
We wish you a speedy recovery.
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Hung2 3:52PM (8/04/2006)
Wishing you the best Cristiano....
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champcarfan 6:05PM (8/04/2006)
Get well soon shorty
#3 deer jump fences
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Justin 6:09PM (8/04/2006)
Hopefully Cristiano gets through this ok.
However, "da Matta is currently recovering in the intensive care unit, where he'll be monitored 24/7" is simply a dumb statement. That's what "intensive care" means, they care for you intensively. Everyone in the ICU is monitored 24 hours a day. They don't get nights and weekends off.
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Leonardo 2:24PM (8/05/2006)
He`ll be back to the track, and win ! Aguardamos seu retorno com muita saúde !
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Raymond Gonzalez 2:52PM (8/05/2006)
Speed your love to Cristiano, God bless.
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Reno Belgium 4:11PM (8/05/2006)
Get well soon Christiano.
Courage et bon rétablissement
Reno - East of Belgium
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Pat O'Dea 6:40PM (8/05/2006)
What rotten luck.
You're a tough guy Cristiano and I konw you can beat this, but it sure would be nice to see an update on your condition.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
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Abelardo 8:45PM (8/05/2006)
Torcemos por sua recuperação. Força.
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Pat O'Dea 10:24PM (8/05/2006)
Latest update I've seen. Sounds promising.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=auto&id=2540766
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A. Wilkin 4:07PM (8/06/2006)
Thoughts and prayers from Texas for Cristiano da Matta.
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Pat O'Dea 11:41PM (8/06/2006)
Sunday update
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=auto&id=2541560
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Pat O'Dea 4:04PM (8/07/2006)
Monday update.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060807/FREE/60807001/1001
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Pat O'Dea 8:49PM (8/10/2006)
Wednesday update, sounds promising. Also contains an address for cards and messages.
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=228493&FS=CHAMPCAR
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