Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana

[Mickey Whaley]

I can't see a steering column i wonder if they cut it out trying to get to ken, no matter this was a nasty crash glad to hear he is recovering

[CycloneFE]

I agree with Mickey, the dash roll-up technique is used to free a persons feet or legs from enanglement in the pedals or steering column. It also appears the door might have been jammed and the Jaws were used to gain access, and the obvious roll bar cuts.

The reason I asked earlier is, I wonder if the dash rolled up that much in the crash or it was due to the rescue? I have seen many a bad crash, but that looks real nasty for a stocker. As I build mine I will be paying close attention to this.

[Jason]

Something is not right here. This car is folded up much worse than ones that hit a concrete racetrack wall, even head-on.

Regular pictures on the Fontana website show the walls consist of Jersey barriers. When the car hit, did a barrier move allowing the car to hit the end of the next barrier? Those Jersey barriers are suppose to have huge pins holding them together which keep them from seperating.

[W J]

Could they have done a large amount of the nose damage to the car when pulling dash away from Ken with the rescue equipment? I've seen them winch against the nose of a wrecked car before to pull interior components away from victim...Anyone? WJ

[Floyd Staggs]

I'm just glad you're still here to talk about it. Ryan said it looked real bad from where he was.

[Ken Etter]

the steering column was stock with the 2 piece shaft that was held together with the plastic pin. I was told it was the center of the column that came under my helmet and broke my jaw into 2 places. I was told the spokes and ring of the wheel were bent back. I am unsure if they rolled the dash up. they say I was semi concious but dont remember anything untill I woke in the emergency room. One thing I'm told is that there was a small fire after impact. The battery sits in the front left corner. Well it was crushed and exploded on impact. Maybe its time to get that battery out of there. If NHRA wants things to be "stock" appearing then mandate fake battery boxes in front. How much danger was I in plus the safety personel who had battery acid and fumes all around to deal with? I will never have anything less than a cage with forward bars from now on. The rool bar moved way too much. It was mild steel and welded to plates on the floor. One thing that may have helped were the heavy gauge 2x3 sq tubing used for the subframe conneters. The floor pan was welded to them and I feel they kept the floor from folding up more. Well gotta go take some more pain meds. I felt good in the hospital with the Morphine. Now I get Tylenol with codene every 4 hours. No comparison. Alot of the litttle aches and pains are poppin up now. Have a great day and appreciate the little things in life.

[Rod Greene]

Ken I am so glad that you were not hurt worse than you are. I agree the 2x3 frame rail connectors kept he floor from collapsing. If we were allowed to have a bar out to the front frame rail the car would not have crushed as much and the steering column would not have hit you. With a true racing seat that doesn't pivot in the middle you would have been safer also.

[CycloneFE]

WJ,

The dash roll up usually pushes from the lower rear door jam and you "cut" the lower front corner so that when the ram pushes the dash it gives easily at the "cut". That was my clue to possibly what happened. The door looks like the jaws were used to open and remove it first and then the dash technique. Usually the striker for the door is ripped out when the door is opened and then it is usually ripped from the hinges, and his hinges appear to be in place, typical of that technique also.

Steve

PS, Ken stay ahead on the meds and don't let up, that pain is going to keep showing up for a while.

[wayne hutton]

Ken, I had a brake (push rod,pin or?) failure at the division 2 race at Reynolds GA. in 06 and as i look at your car pictures one thing that really stands out to me is the fact that, as in my wreak, the top portion of the seat back seems to have folded foward allowing additional travel in the shoulder harness . my car was a tube car with Kirkey seats, the problem in my case was not the seat but more to the point at which the harness was attached to the main hoop cross bar. I feel if that point is to far below the shoulder line in a frontal impact the harness will bend the seat back as you move foward also in my crash the sterring shaft was driven back into my face and caused serious injury and as in your case I broke bones I did know I had.

However, i am sure glad you made it thur the collision and seam to be on the meands and i feel you pain and I also think God does ride shotgun.

I spent 5 or 6 weeks in the truma unit in Macon Ga. and another 4 or 5 in rehab so I know things are fuzzy right now but try to keep your spirits up hang in there. one good thing to remember is all of the frends you have even if you don.t know them personally.

God bless and get well soon

wayne hutton
ps please excuse my typo and spelling, not to good at this

[SSGN]

Ken I am glad you are here to race another day,get well.I think we have all missed the boat on this one though,racing seat,roll bar etc are only a result of.We have to find out why these rods are comeing out, and build something so they stay in place. Brackets or an integral rod assembly.The cause must fixed before the effects.This is the 3rd time this has happened in the last few years to the best of my knowledge.I remember Woodro's pics like they were yesterday.Any ideas?My friend and I will be checking his stocker this weekend.

Kevin