8PM update: The pressure on his brain has stabilized and his kidney function is good. He is still unconscious, but they are reducing some of the medication. He responded to his wife's touch.
Robbie's Uncle reports that the approaching vehicle hit the left rear of the towed Fiero, the wheel of the tow dolly and the left wheel of the Fiero being towed. Robbie made contact with the front of the vehicle and the passenger windshield/A pillar. It seems he had little more time than to turn around, since he took most of the impact on his left side.
Here is an article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press:
Home » News » Latest News » Accident injures one ... Saturday, March 27, 2010 Accident injures one on Highway 58
By: Staff Report
A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle traveling on Highway 58 late Friday evening, sending the victim to Erlanger hospital in critical condition, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
About 11 p.m. police were called to the scene, where two people traveling north on Highway 58 had stopped in the roadway to fix a malfunction on a trailer being towed by a 2002 Silverado pick up truck, said Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office.
Carter Crooks, 22, also was driving north in a 1990 Toyota Camry when he hit the left side of the trailer, striking the victim, despite efforts to break, Ms. Atkinson said. Mr. Carter then overcorrected and rotated about 180 degrees before coming to a stop.
Police said there was no evidence of alcohol found at the scene and no other injuries were reported other than the man who was hit. Ms. Atkinson said the victim’s name will not be released until next of kin have been notified and any decision on charges will be made after a full reconstruction of the crash is completed.
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08:15 PM
Boostdreamer Member
Posts: 7175 From: Kingsport, Tennessee USA Registered: Jun 2007
Rob is a really good guy and has taken time-outs from his paying work to talk to me about my car problems 150 miles away. My prayer list just got updated.
Jonathan
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08:19 PM
Boostdreamer Member
Posts: 7175 From: Kingsport, Tennessee USA Registered: Jun 2007
If anyone has the ability to open his shop and continue any of his work, I'd like to volunteer for a day on duty down there. I don't know how much I can help but I'd like to try. PM me.
Jonathan
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08:21 PM
TommyRocker Member
Posts: 2808 From: Woodstock, IL Registered: Dec 2009
Sounds like it may have just been bad luck. Late at night, the driver may have been driving home from a late job. The trailer may not havr been completely off the road. May not have been well lit. I hope he recovers well, but I also hope the driver is doin ok. As they said, he wasn't drunk, and he didn't try to run. He did try to avoid the trailer, just didn't succeed. Prayers to all involved.
I am going to Erlanger Hosp. in the morning. I have good feelings that he will be ok... Ya know, a few months ago he told me about having a dream about getting run over with a car. At that time we was talking about a car falling on someone.
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08:26 PM
CrazyDragn Member
Posts: 1400 From: Kingsport, TN 37663 Registered: Aug 2009
Currently the shop is locked up and everyone's property is secure. Darrel Finley and Robbie's wife Gail, and Robbie's friends have made sure that everything is inside and under lock and key that only Gail has. I'm sure that as things get better, there exists the possibility that repair and service activity may start again.
Bill, I'll see you there tomorrow morning, also.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 03-27-2010).]
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08:39 PM
Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11749 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
I'll talk to his wife tomorrow and see if she will let us set up something. I can have our webmaster set it up on the GFC paypal account, if she agrees.
Goodnight. There will be no updates from me until I return from Chattanooga Sunday night, unless things change for the worse.
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09:52 PM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
Hope all is well and getting better very soon... I'm sorry to hear about the incident... Especially being a "Finley" myself on the west coast... Stay strong! ---- I feel it's Family and we have to stick together
To Robert and his wife, I wish yall the best and we will pray for a speedy and healthy recovery. Please keep us updated.
Also Rob was really trying his best to get everybody that he could to attend the pontiacs in the forge car show in Pigeon Forge Tn. on June 4,5 and 6. Maybe we could attend for him as he will probably not be able to attend this know. And maybe stop by and see him also.
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02:12 PM
fierofool Member
Posts: 12873 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
First, Flyboy81, let me say that we're all glad you're ok. Had you also been injured, Robbie might have been in worse shape without your care until the medics arrived.
My Brother, Ray and I visited with Robbie this morning. It's apparent that he took a very serious impact. His BP is good and is within normal range, as is his pulse. I didn't see an Oh 2 monitor and the stats weren't displayed on the monitor, so his breathing and oxygen intake is likely normal. They list him as critical but stable. There is a monitor placed inside his skull for checking internal pressure. There has been no increase in the pressure, so they think the swelling has stopped. The left leg was of great concern due to lack of circulation. They have done some repositioning of the bone and now have good circulation. I held his hands and he is warm, so he has good circulation there.
I spoke with his wife, Gail about setting up a fund and she said that was OK. I was gonna do it through the GFC but since the ETFC members have already made the arrangements, it would best be done that way. This is to keep the rent paid up until Robbie is able to return. Some of the ETFC members will be handling some of the work in the shop in Robbie's absence.
Send checks to
Gail Finley 709 Perry Street Athens, Tn. 37303
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04:35 PM
Flyboy81 Member
Posts: 357 From: Erwin Tn USA Registered: Nov 2008
Hey everyone, no new news to report on rob other than he is stable. Ill explain the accident first hand. We were towing a Fiero to the shop on a Dolly attached to my truck and I noticed sparks coming from the driverside wheel on the dolly. I told rob we need to pull off but there was no place on the road to do it. Nothin but ditches and with a dolly, we can't back out the driveways. I pulled to the end of the longest stretch of straight road we could get to and stopped. I had flagged 3 cars around us befor we stopped. After it was clear, we got out and started trying to fix the dragging strap. I saw the car start over the hill nearly three quarters of a mile away. I had all emergency lights on and bed light on. The dolly is well lit and all was working properly, rob won't use a dolly if its not working right. I noticed he was slowing and told rob to look out. We both stood there to see where the other driver was gonna go. It looked as if he was going to hit the fiero head on without even slowing. I guess suddenly he looked up, saw us, swerved but hit the side of the car and dolly fender. Rob was next to the fender and tried to run across the road but the boy swerved his way and hit him with the right front. Thus far, the police have told me the impact speed was between 50 and 60 mph. Id say if he was trying to brake, he must have been flying if he was on the brake before he hit us. We were visable for over half a mile, we had every light blinking we could. The other driver was 22 and a college student. I got up after diving over the car to find rob and it had knocked him over 50 feet in front of my truck. I ran to him dialing 911 and had to hold his cut shut on his head untill medics got there. They flew him out from there to erlanger. Other guy walked away with slight or no injuries. Rob is 50 years old and is fighting with all he has. I'm praying for him every day.
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04:48 PM
Fierfly Member
Posts: 154 From: Millers Creek, NC Registered: Jul 2009
Originally posted by Flyboy81: Ill explain the accident first hand.
Wow. One thought I had is I hope you don't feel guilty in any way. It sounded like you guys did your best to make it safe. Lady Luck can be a B**** sometimes.
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06:18 PM
nitroheadz28 Member
Posts: 4774 From: Brooklyn, NY Registered: Mar 2010
Horrible accident, I hope for a speedy recovery for Rob. That dude in the Camry was definitely texting and driving, waaay too many people my age do that and a lot of my friends have already come close to wrecking doing that.. Oh well, too bad it takes such pain for others for the offenders to learn. Good luck with everything.
Sure glad to hear Robert is at least stable now. I totally agree w/$$ to keep his shop open/secure-will contribute on the 1st.
Spoilt-glad you mentioned the Pegion Forge show, I wasn't sure if I should, at least so soon after the accident. I am going for sure, but Jerry still ain't sure if she can get off work.
Robert, Gail & all--in our prayers full time. Rick & Jerry
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08:08 PM
Boostdreamer Member
Posts: 7175 From: Kingsport, Tennessee USA Registered: Jun 2007
just got home from the hospital, robs doing as well as can be expected guys, he looks bad and it was so heart breaking to see him that way but he's a strong guy. his bp was 147/79,,96 pulse,,99 percent oxygen, the doctor said they are watching the pressure in his head closely and its at 19 now and if it dont get over 24 they said it should be ok, they are going to do some work on his leg tommorrow they think. he did have some movement in his right hand today while we were talking to him and when his wife mentioned her and lady bug(his dog) said some prayers for him last night he really moved his hand. he is warm and making water so thats a good thing. rob has a long ruff road ahead of him and will need us all to get through this, i'll be going back up tommorrow sometime to see him and i'll post as to any improvements he has also. he is somewhat stable but in very serious condition guys..please keep him in your prayers
Just got back from Erlanger Hospital. Rob is still listed critical but stable in the Truama Intensive Care Unit. His head and face are swollen quite a bit, but the preasure in his brain seems to be stableizing for the time being, the Drs. expect the pressure to decrease as the swelling goes down His left shoulder was shattered and clavical are broken and banged up so he will have to have surgery to correct the shoulder at some point. The left leg is shattered in 3 places but they are hoping to be able to clean the leg up some tommorow helping to increase circulation and prevent infection. His leg was hurt from the calf doing damage from back to front. Basically right now they are working to save the leg and get it back to normal as much as possible.For now they are mainly working on his head injury and the bad leg.The rest will be one step at a time as he can tolerate procedures. His medicine was decreased alittle and he did respond to Gayles touch so he is aware that she is there with him. Rob is breathing mostly on his own now with just alittle help from the ventalator. Gail wants everybody to know how much she appreciates all the prayers and caring people.
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10:23 PM
Mar 29th, 2010
$Rich$ Member
Posts: 14575 From: Sioux Falls SD Registered: Dec 2002
I Hope all is well and he pulls through the best possible. i know that major injures can be hard to over come and with several severe injuries, 100% recovery can be tough, i know that it is tough on the family to just be hanging out at the hospital watching the hours tick by.
i will keep you guys in my thoughts all we can do is hope for the best... obviously i am just a guy 1000 miles away, but if i can help, im only a PM a way.. take care guys
------------------ AIM:Onefast2M8 00 VW GTI VR6 -- Not stock 07 G6 GTP 3.6 VVT-- 6 speed auto. 98 Corvette, Nassau blue Coupe, Not stock...
and we have to stick together
