Ashely Lowery, Kentucky’s starting safety, was involved in car wreck in Georgia early Saturday where his 2006 Nissan Altima flipped several times and sent Lowery flying 100 feet from the vehicle.
Less than two days later, Lowery was taken off sedation, had his breathing tube and neck brace removed, and was sitting up in his hospital bed talking to family and answering questions from doctors, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Lowery’s recovery was nothing short of a miracle.
“Just a ton of scrapes all over his body. Some of them are pretty bad cuts, pretty deep, but they think right now he came out of it pretty clean,” said Doug Stutsman, who is sports editor at the White County News in Cleveland, Ga., Lowery’s hometown, and the family spokesperson. “I think miracle is the right word. There’s really no other word to describe it. His brother said it just looks like he was in a bicycle accident. After seeing the car, if you told me he was alive — even if he was paralyzed — I would’ve said he’s lucky.
“Not only is he alive, but he’s going to be fine sooner than later. It’s unbelievable.”
Lowery, 20, was able to move his arms and legs and drink through a straw. Stutsman told the paper Lowery could be moved from ICU to a regular room as early as Monday.
Lowery hasn’t talked about how the accident occurred, but will be questioned by doctors about the accident as he continues to get better. Against all odds, Lowery was probably save by not wearing his seat belt, which enabled him to be ejected from what would ultimately be a crumpled car.
“We’re just so happy he’s here,” Stutsman said. “He’s doing a heck of a lot better than we all thought he’d be.”
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