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Austin Theriault Suffers Compression Fracture in 2015 Rhino Linings 350 Accident at Las Vegas

A non-SAFER barrier wall strikes again. Less than 20 laps into Saturday night’s Rhino Linings 350, Tyler Reddick got loose and went sliding across the track. Though he tried to save it, he clipped teammate Austin Theriault, sending him head on into the outside wall, mere feet past where the SAFER barrier ended.

Safety personnel assisted Theirault in getting out of his truck, removed his helmet and placed him on a backboard before taking him to the infield care center. He was airlifted out of the track to University Medical Center awake and alert. Brad Keselowski Racing issued a statement in the early morning hours, updating his condition.

Theriault underwent a comprehensive CT scan of the upper body, which showed a 10% compression fracture of the lower back. Theriault was released and will travel back to North Carolina where he will follow up with an orthopedic specialist for further treatment.

As of press time, there were no further updates on Theriault’s condition.

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3 Comments
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midasmicah

Nascar doesn’t seem to care about the safety of their drivers. If there is an. Unprotected wall on the track, they’re going to find it.

russ

The safety crew, which I’m sure did there best, certainly didn’t measure up to what we expect from Indycar of F1.

russ

Indycar OR F1.