Country singer and Christian rock musician Austin Childress was critically injured last Sunday in a severe motorcycle accident. Childress is known as part of the Christian rock band Thalon. Reports indicate that a motorist fell asleep and hit Childress' motorcycle head on. The musician was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where a tracheotomy was performed to help him breathe after he was taken off of a breathing machine today.
Family and friends of the musician say that slow progress is being made and that the musician is slowly recovering from his severe personal injuries.
"With some help and a lot of pain, he moved his left arm," said a pastor who is a close friend of the musician's family. "He's still responding to our voices, so it's a positive report. We're elated, but he still needs a lot of prayer." Several prayer events are being held in the singer's hometown to help aid his progress.
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable individuals in highway accidents because motorcycles offer virtually no protection from the impact of a car accident. The pastor says that the musician was injured after the sleeping motorist swerved into his lane of travel. Childress suffered severe head injuries despite the fact that he was wearing a helmet. The musician was also thrown from his motorcycle from the impact of the crash.
The condition of the driver who hit Childress was not reported and it is unknown whether any criminal actions or personal injury lawsuits will be filed in connection with this tragic accident.
Source: Clanton Advertiser, "Local musician injured in Nashville accident," "Clanton musician still in hospital following wreck," Drew Granthum, 7/18/11