By Garrett Stack
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — A pit crew member who was injured Tuesday at the Anderson Speedway lies in painful, but stable condition after surgery yesterday.
Curt Stein, a 43-year-old Greenfield native, is a member of the pit crew for Dave Ecoff’s No. 15 car.
Stein was inflating a tire in preparation for the Redbud 300, which was to take place that evening, when the entire tire exploded off of the car, severely injuring his left arm.
“It sounded like a bomb,” Ecoff said. “The wheel dismounted and just blasted off.”
Stein was taken via helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery Tuesday evening to repair his wounded arm.
“So far he’s gone through one surgery and he’s getting some feeling back in his fingers,” Ecoff said. “But it’s still an iffy thing and it will probably take several more surgeries to repair all the damage.”
Ecoff, a Greenfield native, raced in the CRA Super Series until 2001. His 16-year-old son Damon now drives the car. This is his rookie season in the series.
Ecoff claims he has never witnessed an accident like the one that injured Stein.
“It was something I’ve never seen before,” he said. “When I go to the track, I worry about my boy, but now I’ll have to spread out my worry to the whole crew. We were lucky no one else was injured.”
According to Anderson Speedway President Rick Dawson, it is still not clear what caused the accident, but human error may be the culprit.
“It doesn’t look like there was anything defective with the tire or the rim,” Dawson said. “So whether he put too much air in there or got it cockeyed, I don’t know.”
Dawson said that it is typical for crew members to put extra air in the tires to get them to “bead and seal” in preparation for a race.
David and his son Damon spent the evening with Stein, and said that he is awake and talking, but that he is still in a lot of pain.
“We fed him some Jell-O this morning and he’s feeling a little better,” Ecoff said. “It’s just a waiting game, but we think that they will be able to save his arm. Now all we can do is hope for the best.”
Contact Garrett Stack, 640-4878, garrett.stack@heraldbulletin.com
Local News
Injured speedway crewman stable after surgery
- Local News
-
-
In a roundabout way
If all goes well, construction for a new roundabout at the intersection of Indiana 38 and County Road 300 West near Pendleton Heights Middle School could begin by the middle of next year.
-
Police: Woman set house fire, blocked exit
Police arrested a woman late Tuesday night in connection with a Saturday home fire.
-
Pendleton woman healing from brain injuries
Andrea Vellinga, the Pendleton woman critically injured during the Indiana State Fair stage collapse, continues to undergo medical treatment and therapy in Michigan.
-
Ban on Sunday motorcycle sales targeted
While advocates for Sunday carry-out alcohol sales have had a hard time making their case to legislators, opponents of another “blue law” may be on an easier road to success.
-
Measles cases pop up after Super Bowl
On Wednesday, the Indiana State Department of Health alerted public health officials in Massachusetts and New York that some of their residents may have come in contact with the rare but highly contagious measles virus when visiting the crowded Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis.
-
Pleasant day for central Indiana
Expect a pleasant day for central Indiana. Mostly sunny skies with hghs around 40 degrees.
-
Poll question for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2012
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom
-
Anderson bank robbery case turned over to FBI
An investigation into the robbery of an Anderson bank Tuesday was officially turned over to the FBI on Wednesday.
-
Volunteers needed for Daffodil Days benefit
The American Cancer Society is looking for individuals, businesses and organizations to help with its upcoming Daffodil Days program.
-
Arrest log: Feb. 9
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on Madison County Jail records.
- More Local News Headlines
-
