Actor Priestley Fractures Spine in Racing Crash
Actor and racing enthusiast Jason Priestley fractured his spine and suffered a head injury on Sunday when he crashed his car into a wall during practice for the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series at Kentucky Speedway, officials said.
The 32-year-old Canadian-born actor, best known for starring as teen hunk Brandon Walsh in the long-running television series “Beverly Hills, 90210” was flown to the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington.
Henry Bock, medical services director for the Indy Racing League, said Priestley suffered a spinal fracture, a head injury and fractures to both feet. He was “stable and responding” and was listed in serious condition at the hospital where he was undergoing testing.
Asked about Priestley’s head injury, Bock said: “Whether that’s a concussion at this time, I think we would call it that. We have no indication from any of the scans … that he has any further damage to his head.”
The doctor said Priestley had fractured one of his vertebrae and the injury could be called a broken back, but he was “moving all his extremities” and there was no indication that the spinal cord itself had been damaged.
Priestley has been driving for Kelley Racing in the Indy Racing League’s Infiniti Pro Series season, which started in July. The accident occurred early on Sunday during practice when Priestley hit a retaining wall while taking a turn at the racetrack in Sparta, Kentucky.
“It was a one-car crash. He hit the wall,” said Kim Miller, spokeswoman for Indy Racing.
Previously Priestley won a 1998 Grand-Am race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Priestley found fame in the 1990s in “90210” before the series ended in 2000 after a 10-year run. He then worked in London, performing in “The Jazz Man” and has starred in numerous films.
He has also worked for ABC Sports as an announcer for Indy Racing League broadcasts, including the Indianapolis 500.
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