SHAWN COWIE UPDATE PAGE
Shawn Cowie, who was critically injured April 9 when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tenn., is expected to be transferred 
from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in to an as yet determined hospital in Delta, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver.
Cowie will be transported to Delta via an emergency medical plane.
“They are basically just waiting for a bed in Canada now and once a bed is assigned to him up there they will fly him out,” said Ron Cowie, Shawn’s father, while speaking with a writer from CompetitionPlus.com Thursday from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “He will go to an area hospital there (in Delta). There are no more surgeries scheduled, but they (doctors) will have to deal with the pins in his pelvic area and the pins in his foot/ankle area in the next number of weeks. I call him stable, but they want him to be in a critical care area because of the injuries. There is nothing life-threatening at this point. They just want to monitor things very closely.”
Shawn Cowie, who was critically injured April 9 when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tenn., is expected to be transferred from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in to an as yet determined hospital in Delta, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver.
Cowie will be transported to Delta via an emergency medical plane.
“They are basically just waiting for a bed in Canada now and once a bed is assigned to him up there they will fly him out,” said Ron Cowie, Shawn’s father, while speaking with a writer from CompetitionPlus.com Thursday from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “He will go to an area hospital there (in Delta). There are no more surgeries scheduled, but they (doctors) will have to deal with the pins in his pelvic area and the pins in his foot/ankle area in the next number of weeks. I call him stable, but they want him to be in a critical care area because of the injuries. There is nothing life-threatening at this point. They just want to monitor things very closely.”
Cowie was injured while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on I-40 near Nashville at 10:30 p.m. CDT when he was struck from behind by a Toyota Camry driven by Analisa Ramirez, 20. Cowie then lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected over the bridge railing. He came to rest in foliage on 21st Avenue North, 27 feet below the interstate.
Ramirez then lost control of her car, which slid into a guardrail. The impact ejected Ramirez into the middle of I-40. She also was transported to Vanderbilt and was in stable condition following the accident, and has since been released.
Officers at the scene reported Ramirez smelled of alcohol. A blood sample was taken for analysis by the TBI crime laboratory. Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt.
“The only thing I know is that this girl is supposed to turn herself in (Thursday afternoon) to the Metro Nashville Police Department, and that they have issued a warrant,” Ron said. “Everything is still under investigation. They (the police) told me they issued a warrant for her arrest and that they have negotiated that she come in this afternoon and turn herself in.”
On April 20, Cowie suffered a setback prior to undergoing surgery. He wasn’t breathing properly and doctors postponed further surgery,at the time, because they thought he might have an infection.
“They (the doctors) calmed it (his infection) down through antibiotics,” Ron said. “On Monday (April 25), Shawn had the surgery and it lasted a little over six hours and it went well. The surgery he had Monday had to do with the skin grafting of the muscle tissue from his left forearm to his right foot area.”
Initially after the accident, there was some thought Shawn might have to have his right leg amputated, but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.
“He is not showing any signs of infections or that sort of thing,” Ron said. “He is still going to need to go through a lot of work when we get home and he will have to go through rehab.”
Ron said Shawn continues to speak, and he has a full grasp of what happened to him during his accident. According to Ron, Shawn does not have any paralysis or brain damage.
“Shawn is really appreciative of all the prayers and all of the concern for him,” Ron said. “He is overwhelmed by it actually.”
Cowie, 29, finished third in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series top alcohol dragster national points standings last year. On April 3, Cowie won the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his family owned and funded team
UPDATED - 4-22
Shawn Cowie, who was critically injured April 9 when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tenn., suffered a setback
“He has some complications, so they are running tests on him today (Thursday),” said Ron Cowie, Shawn’s father, in an interview with CompetitionPlus.com presented by Attitude Apparel Thursday morning from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “He went into surgery Wednesday and he wasn’t breathing quite properly so they (postponed the surgery) because they (the doctors) think he might have an infection, so they are checking into it now.”
According to Ron, during Wednesday’s scheduled five-hour surgery doctors were supposed to finish off plastic surgery and skin grafting on Shawn’s right foot and ankle.
On Monday, Ron said Shawn was in surgery for 11½ hours, before the doctors stopped.
“The doctors cut that surgery short after 11½ hours because it was going to be way too much for him (Shawn), and for the staff (doctors), as well, if they went another five hours,” Ron said. “It was 9 p.m. (CDT) Monday when they stopped the surgery.”
During Monday’s surgery doctors worked on Shawn’s right knee and right leg.
“They did what they called a muscle flap where they moved a calf muscle and flipped it over and sewed that in, and they also took some skin off his thigh to close that wound up,” said Ron about what the doctors were doing below Shawn’s right knee. “They also moved down to do some bone work on the ankle and foot. Shawn’s right leg took the major brunt in the accident. There were a couple of breaks on the left upper leg, but the doctors stabilized that. They put a rod in and pinned it and they are OK with that. The doctors described the broken bones in Shawn’s (right) foot/ankle area as ‘dust.’”
Ron said Shawn has been able to talk and speak, and he has a full grasp of what happened to him during his accident.
“Once he got his ventilator tubes out, he started talking,” Ron said.
According to Ron, Shawn does not have any paralysis or brain damage. Shawn was wearing a helmet and shorts and a T-shirt the night he wrecked.
Cowie, 29, is from Delta, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver. He finished third in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series top alcohol dragster national points standings last year. On April 3, Cowie won the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ron Cowie oversees and funds his son's race team.
Ron Cowie said Shawn Cowie and his cousin Nik Duperon were driving the team’s rig to Charlotte, N.C. for the 4Wide Nationals April 14-17 at zMax Dragway when they stopped in Nashville to see the sights and take a ride on their motorcycles.
According to a press release obtained by Competition Plus from Chris Taylor of the Metro Nashville Police Department, Cowie was critically injured when his motorcycle was struck from behind by a car on I-40 west at 21st Avenue.
The preliminary investigation shows that Cowie was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on I-40 at 10:30 p.m. CDT when he was struck from behind by a Toyota Camry. Cowie lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected over the bridge railing. He came to rest in foliage on 21st Avenue North, 27 feet below the interstate.
It appeared that the collision with the motorcycle caused the driver of the Camry, Analisa Ramirez, 20, of Keenland Drive in Murfreesboro, to lose control of the car, which slid into a guardrail. The impact ejected Ramirez into the middle of I-40. She also was transported to Vanderbilt and was in stable condition following the accident.
Officers reported that Ramirez smelled of alcohol. A blood sample was taken for analysis by the TBI crime laboratory. Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt.
Competition Plus contacted Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Thursday, and was told Ramirez is no longer showing up as a patient at the hospital.
“I talked to the police officer Monday (April 18) and he will not release any information to me because the accident is still under investigation,” Ron said.
Ron Cowie has talked to Duperon, Shawn's companion on the trip, about the accident.
“The car had already lost control by the time it went around Nik,” Ron said. “Nik said he virtually could touch the fender (of the car), and the headlights were pointed at him, going sideways by him at a high-rate of speed, from the far left lane, coming across just in front of him. He is really not sure where it (the car) hit Shawn on the bike, whether it was towards the rear or straight on or whatever. As she was heading toward the guardrail she hit him (Shawn). The next thing he (Nik) saw was parts and he lost sight of Shawn and the motorcycle and her car started flipping. There was a body that flew out from the car and he thought that was Shawn, and mayhem took over from there.”
Ron said Shawn and Nik were riding their motorcycles in the same lane before the accident occurred.
UPDATED - 4-13
Shawn Cowie, an NHRA world championship contending top alcohol dragster driver, remains in serious condition after being critically injured Saturday night when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tenn.
Cowie, 29, from Delta, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver, finished third in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series top alcohol dragster national points standings last year. On April 3, Cowie won the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Ron Cowie, Shawn’s father, spoke with CompetitionPlus.com presented by Attitude Apparel Tuesday from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Ron Cowie oversees and funds Shawn’s race team.
“Shawn is just resting today (Tuesday),” Ron said. “They are just doing a small procedure and putting a filter in his artery to help prevent blood clots. They are going to do further surgery (Wednesday) with respect to his injuries in his legs. They (the doctors) have not really figured out what they are going to do with the one bone that is broken just below his (right) knee. It is the worse the surgeon has ever seen. These were exposed wounds by the way. The surgeon has not really formulated a concrete plan yet (on what to do with the right leg). Shawn responds to us by opening his eyes. He can hear us and he knows that we are here, and that is all good. The hospital staff has been absolutely fantastic with the way they work and treat their patients. We are here for Shawn to show our support and to tell him about everybody else’s support. That has been overwhelming.”
According to Ron, Shawn does not have any paralysis or brain damage.
Ron Cowie said Shawn had a 7-½ hour surgery Monday night.
“That (surgery) was to deal with the pelvic bone, and to deal with his upper right leg,” Ron said. “He also had some surgery on his right ankle and foot area and work (done) on his left leg. He came out of the surgery OK. They (the doctors) were happy with what they accomplished that first day.”
Ron Cowie said Shawn Cowie and his cousin Nik Duperon were driving the team’s rig to Charlotte, N.C. for the 4Wide Nationals April 14-17 at zMax Dragway.
“They stopped off in Nashville to see the sights,” Adam Rhoades, a family friend of the Cowies told Competition Plus Sunday. “They were on their way back to the rig because they load their motorcycles up at night. They were riding together, but Shawn was the only one involved in the accident.”
According to a press release obtained by Competition Plus from Chris Taylor of the Metro Nashville Police Department, Cowie was critically injured Saturday night when his motorcycle was struck from behind by a car on I-40 west at 21st Avenue.
The preliminary investigation shows Cowie was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on I-40 at 10:30 p.m. CDT when he was struck from behind by a Toyota Camry. Cowie lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected over the bridge railing. He came to rest in foliage on 21st Avenue North, 27 feet below the interstate.
It appeared the collision with the motorcycle caused the driver of the Camry, Analisa Ramirez, 20, of Keenland Drive in Murfreesboro, to lose control of the car, which slid into a guardrail. The impact ejected Ramirez into the middle of I-40. She was also transported to Vanderbilt and is in stable condition.
Officers reported Ramirez smelled of alcohol. A blood sample was taken for analysis by the TBI crime laboratory. Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt.
Ron Cowie has talked to Duperon about the accident.
“The car had already lost control by the time it went around Nik,” Ron said. “Nik said he virtually could touch the fender (of the car), and the headlights were pointed at him, going sideways by him at a high-rate of speed, from the far left lane, coming across just in front of him. He is really not sure where it (the car) hit Shawn on the bike, whether it was towards the rear or straight on or whatever. As she was heading toward the guardrail she hit him (Shawn). The next thing he (Nik) saw was parts and he lost sight of Shawn and the motorcycle and her car started flipping. There was a body that flew out from the car and he thought that was Shawn, and mayhem took over from there.”
Ron said Shawn and Nik were riding their motorcycles in the same lane before the accident occurred.
“Shawn was wearing a helmet, and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt,” Ron said. “The crash scene was probably a total of a couple hundred yards. We just finished talking with the police officer and there are charges pending.”
4-10-2011 - Shawn Cowie, an NHRA world championship contending top alcohol dragster driver, was critically injured Saturday night when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tenn.
Cowie, 29, from Delta, British Columbia, Canada, finished third in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster national points standings last year. Last Sunday, Cowie won the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Adam Rhoades, a family friend of the Cowies, confirmed on Sunday Cowie was involved in the accident. Rhoades is a former tuner for Chris Demke’s Top Alcohol Dragster.
Rhoades said he spoke with Shawn’s fiancée, Taylor Heritage, and Ron Cowie, Shawn’s father, at approximately 3 p.m. MDT Sunday about the accident. Ron Cowie oversees and funds Shawn’s race team.
“At that time they were getting ready to board an airplane to go to Nashville,” Rhoades said in a phone interview from his home in St. George, Utah. “They confirmed to me that he was involved in an accident and that he is the hospital and he is in critical condition.”
Calls and emails Sunday evening by CompetitionPlus.com to the Nashville Metro Police were not returned.
Rhoades said Shawn Cowie and his cousin Nik Duperon were driving the team’s rig to Charlotte, N.C. for the 4-Wide Nationals April 14-17 at zMax Dragway.
“They stopped off in Nashville to see the sights,” Rhoades said. “They were on their way back to the rig because they load their motorcycles up at night. They were riding together, but Shawn was the only one involved in the accident.”
Rhoades said Duperon was at the hospital with Shawn Cowie. Rhoades, meanwhile, was trying to come to grips with what happened.
“Shawn is an intense competitor, but he is just a real Down to Earth guy,” Rhoades said. “We have had a lot of fun together. This news is a devastating blow. You hear stuff like this and it is sad. It makes you want to grab your kids and hug them.”
Bill Moore, Shawn Cowie’s tuner, had the following post on insidetopalcohol.com Sunday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I post this. Shawn Cowie was struck by a car on his motorcycle last night in Nashville. Information is early but a car lost control and came into Shawn and Nik’s lane. Shawn suffered severe injuries and is critical. There is a chance that he may lose his leg. Nik is okay physically. They were on their way with the rig to the Charlotte race and had stopped in Nashville to “see the sights. Will post more when we know more,” Bill Moore, Cowie TAD3.
According to a story posted on wsmv.com, which is the website for WSMV-TV in Nashville, Metro Police said the accident happened at about 10:30 p.m. CDT, near Rosa Parks Boulevard.
Cowie lost control of the motorcycle and was thrown over the bridge railing, according to police. He fell about 27 feet and landed on shrubbery on 21st Avenue North, officers said.
Investigators said it appeared the collision with the motorcycle caused the driver of the car, Analisa Ramirez, to lose control and slide into a guardrail.
Police said the impact threw Ramirez into the middle of I-40. She was transported to Vanderbilt, where she remained in stable condition.
According to investigators, alcohol might have been a factor in the crash. Officers reported Ramirez smelled of alcohol, and a blood sample was taken for analysis.
Police said Ramirez was not wearing a seat belt.
No charges have been filed, police said, however the investigation has not been completed.
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