Scott Driggers, the Sidecar Motorcycle driver injured in an accident at Industry Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 6, has been removed from life support and is functioning without artificial aid, but remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
Driggers, 48, of Lake Forest, was injured late Wednesday night in a dramatic accident that occurred when the throttle on his motorcycle struck wide open and the motorcycle hit the wooden safety wall in The Grand arena at approximately 70 miles per hour during the Sidecar main event.
Both Scott Driggers and his nephew, Sean, attempted to leap clear of the accident, but were unable to do so in the confined space. The force of the impact tore the safety wall loose from its mountings and both men were temporarily trapped in the wreckage. Industry Speedway officials, spectators and on-site emergency medical personnel began administering to the Driggers immediately and were joined by emergency response teams from the City of Industry and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The two men eventually were transported to the LA County-USC Medical Center’s trauma unit. Scott Driggers suffered a fractured pelvis and broken femur in addition to internal bleeding. Sean Driggers, 38, who as the “swinger” uses his weight and body positioning to balance the motorcycle, was treated for a badly broken nose and dislocated hip.
Missy Driggers, Sean’s wife, said Sunday that Scott has undergone four surgeries to stop the internal bleeding and treat the broken bones and still may have to have further surgery.
She said that while Scott had been taken off life support and was “fully functional on his own,” he also was extremely restless and was being closely monitored. She said indications were that he would remain in intensive care at least through the middle of this week and then possibly be moved into recovery, barring any relapses or further surgeries.
The extent of Sean’s injuries hasn’t been fully determined, either. Missy said that in addition to the dislocated hip and shattered nose “it looks like the eye socket is broken,” but doctors have to wait for the swelling to subside to make that determination.
Missy said they believe Sean’s nose was broken when the sidecar rail on which he sits ricocheted off the wall and struck him in the face.
“The doctors couldn’t believe he didn’t have any internal bleeding or anything else broken,” she said.
Industry Speedway promoter Jeffrey Immediato announced on Sunday that beginning with this week’s (Aug. 13) event donations will be accepted for a fund that is being established to help defray some of the Driggers’ medical expenses.
Full details of the fund will be announced in the next few days.
This week’s Speedway Motorcycle racing program will be the 15th night of a 20-night season.
Entrance gates at The Grand open at 5:30 p.m. and racing gets under way at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, students and military, and $5 for children 6-13.
