6 Months After Near-Fatal Crash, Indy Driver Determined To Dance At His Wedding
on Feb 22, 2019
Exactly six months previous to this emotional and gripping video, talented INDYCAR driver Robert Wickens was caught up in one of the worst crashes of the sport in years – and he was lucky to make it out alive from the wreckage.
The crash happened during the 2018 ABC Supply 500 at Pocono – and the 29-year-old driver had just gotten to the 7th lap of the race when the crash happened and his car was destroyed.
The Horrible Crash
Following a restart on Lap 7, the Canadian INDYCAR driver was running side-by-side with American Indy champ Ryan Hunter-Reay when Wickens tried to pass him.
Canadian Robert Wickens involved in scary crash at Pocono – https://t.co/VB1gZSVXP8 https://t.co/bbqTWNFh0x pic.twitter.com/kKG11Lx8yZ
— Tech Chanakya (@TechChanakya) August 20, 2018
The cars slightly touched, causing Hunter-Reay’s car to slam into the outer wall, but Wickens got dragged along with him and launched up over the wall – flying into the catch fence and ripping his car to shreds as he flipped over and over.
BRUTAL CRASH!!! Wickens crash in slow motion… 😥😥😥 Robert Wickens is awake and alert. He has been transported by helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. #Indycar#Pocono https://t.co/ttoTSGlW35
— F1Writers™ (@f1writers) August 19, 2018
The fencing he catapulted into was shredded and so was his car – which came to rest near an inside wall and was reduced just to the tub of the car. Emergency personnel rushed to his aid and he was flown via medivac to an Allentown, PA hospital.
Eventually, it was revealed by his team of doctors – and Wickens himself – that he was temporarily paralyzed with a good prognosis for overcoming the physical injuries and being able to return to normal life.
In a video posted to Instagram on October 25th, 2018 (just about a year before his wedding) Wickens opened up about his status and how far away he was from walking.
“The reality is I am far away from walking on my own,” he wrote in the video’s caption. “Some people are a bit confused with the severity of my injury, so I wanted to let you know the reality of it. I’ve never worked harder for anything in my life, and I am giving it all I’ve got to spark those nerves in my legs.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpYJKb-HmBj/
Now, months later – Wickens shared a new update in which he said he’s determined to dance at his wedding and surprised his fiancee with something super special.
“Yesterday was 6 months since my accident,” Wickens said alongside this new video. “I’ve known I could do this for a week or so, but I wanted to surprise [Karli Woods]! One of my goals through this recovery is to dance at our wedding in September. This was a massive confidence boost that my goal could become a reality.”
In the videos posted by both Wickens and Woods, he stands up from his wheelchair with some stabilization assistance from Woods and is able to hug her and stand on his own – something that he hasn’t been able to do for a very long time.
With such a positive attitude and great progress, we can’t wait to see these two dancing at their wedding in September – and we continue to send him our good thoughts and prayers of a speedy recovery.
Watch the videos below from Karli Woods and Robert Wickens.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHEouKH8-d/
