Jack Roush remains hospitalized with facial injuries after plane crash
Jack Roush is expected to make a full recovery from injuries suffered when he crashed his plane Tuesday in Oshkosh, Wis. // AVweb.com, AVweb.com
Jack Roush remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition following his plane crash Tuesday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., according to a team statement.
The 68-year-old Roush, the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, was piloting the plane when it crashed on landing, with the plane splitting near the fuselage.
He is in Theda Clark Medical Center, according to The Northwestern newspaper. The team statement Wednesday said that Roush is under observation for facial injuries sustained in the accident.
Photos and video from the wreck show Roush, with a bloody face, exiting the plane. His passenger, Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital Wednesday afternoon, the Roush statement said.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s incident report classifies the injuries as “minor.” It classifies injuries in three categories: minor, serious and fatal.
The Raytheon Premier jet, registered to Roush Fenway Racing, was destroyed in the accident, which occurred at about 7:17 p.m. EDT, according to the FAA incident report.
The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the accident.
Roush Fenway Racing asks that those who want to support or send well wishes to Roush do so by making a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush to Speedway Children’s Charities and to identify the contribution as “Jack Roush” in the notes section.
“On behalf of the NASCAR industry our hearts and prayers go out to Jack Roush, the Roush family and Roush Fenway Racing,” NASCAR Chairman Brian France said in a statement. “All of us are looking forward to a full and speedy recovery.”
Roush heads a racing organization that fields four Cup teams and four Nationwide teams. He also has a stake in Roush Yates Engines, which is the main provider of engines to Ford teams.
"All of us at Ford Motor Company are relieved to know that Jack Roush will make a full recovery from the crash yesterday," said Jamie Allison, who heads Ford's North American motorsports program. "He and his family are in our thoughts and have our best wishes. Jack is an icon in the sport of auto racing, but more importantly, he's family to all of us.
"We will continue to work very closely with the entire leadership team at RFR and will do everything we can to help support Roush Fenway Racing during this time, as Jack concentrates on his recovery. I know I speak for every employee at Ford when I say that we wish Jack well, and look forward to seeing him back at the track very soon."
Roush nearly lost his life while piloting a small plane near Troy, Ala., on his 60th birthday on April 19, 2002. He hit a power line and landed upside down in eight feet of water. The longtime NASCAR team owner was not breathing when he was rescued and sustained a broken leg, a collapsed lung and head injuries.
