Eric Medlen, NHRA Funny Car Driver, Dies From Injuries After a Testing Accident in Gainesville, FL
Sad news for the straight-line warriors of the NHRA...the details courtesy of John Force Racing:
"The talented Funny Car driver never regained consciousness. After being treated at the track, Eric was transported by ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center where medical staff treated him for four days for a severe closed head injury. “Eric suffered from severe traumatic brain injury with diffuse axonal injury, or DAI,” said Dr. Joseph Layon, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Medicine and the Chief of Critical Care Medicine at UF. “Survival rates associated with DAI are low. “On Tuesday, UF and Shands neurosurgery team performed a cranjectomy and removed the front portion of the skull to relieve pressure and attempt to improve blood flow to the brain,” Dr. Layon explained. “Despite receiving the most aggressive treatment, Eric continued to have uncontrollable intracranial pressure. His body lost the ability to manage its salt and water levels and he began displaying the complicating factors associated with DAI. “That is when Eric’s family elected to honor Eric’s wishes and remove him from the artificial life support systems. Our hearts go out to Eric’s loved ones.”"
Eric drove for John Force Racing's 4 Funny Car team. His crew chief was his dad, and drag race veteran, John Medlen. We'll link to a site or two where you can express sympathies in a comment.
Paul Kaminski
3/23/2007
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About Me
- Paul Kaminski
- Host, Radio-Road-Test. Proprietor, PK Communications Co. Retired Radio News Reporter (major American + foreign English language networks). Columnist/contributor, Radio World Magazine. SFC, US Army (Retired)
2 comments:
Check out John Force's team website:
http://www.johnforceracing.com
Further information on Eric Medlen's funeral services, courtesy of John Force Racing:
SERVICES FOR DRAG RACER ERIC MEDLEN TO BE CONDUCTED IN INDIANA
BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Funeral services for professional race car driver Eric Medlen, 33, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday (March 28) at Connection Pointe Christian Church, 1800 N. Green Street, Brownsburg. In addition to Wednesday’s services, there will be a viewing from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the same church.
Medlen succumbed to complications from a closed head injury four days after his drag racing Funny Car crashed during routine testing at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.
A six-time winner on the NHRA drag racing tour, Medlen maintained his residence in Brownsburg near the site of the midwest shop facility that housed his race car and those of John Force Racing teammates John Force, Ashley Force and Robert Hight.
Medlen, one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Series, is survived by his father, John; his mother, Mary “Mimi” Medlen; his stepmother, Martha Medlen; and a sister, Eryn Gonzales.
Paul Kaminski
3/24/2007
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