Fayetteville student in wreck upgraded to good condition
Posted on Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The condition of a Fayetteville High School student injured in a car accident Oct. 31 has been upgraded to good.
Aaron Leslie, 16, was initially listed in critical condition at Washington Regional Medical Center after driving his Honda Accord off a bridge on Oct. 31 and landing in the West Fork of the White River. Witnesses said the high school student was submerged for nearly 15 minutes and had no pulse when he was pulled from the water. Paramedics revived Leslie by performing CPR while en route to the hospital.
“It’s a miracle,” said Jeff Fitch, who works with Leslie’s stepdad. “Anyone who can be underwater for that long and be brought back to life is a definite miracle.”
Terry Fox, public relations coordinator for the Washington Regional Medical Center, said Leslie had been discharged from the hospital in Fayetteville as of Tuesday.
He was transported to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where he was listed in good condition Tuesday evening.
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, good condition means “vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.”
Fitch said doctors predict Leslie to remain at the children’s hospital for another two to three weeks. After that, he will return to his home in Fayetteville and is expected to undergo continued outpatient therapy.
“It’s going to be a long road, but he’s doing really well,” Fitch said of the 16-year-old’s condition. “ Right now, his speech is a little slurred, but he’s working on getting it back to normal. He’s expected to make a full recovery. ”
Police said Leslie was traveling westbound in a Honda Accord on Huntsville Road just after 7 a.m. on Oct. 31. As he approached the intersection with River Meadows Drive, his vehicle veered into the eastbound lane, crossing paths with a tractor-trailer.
According to the accident report, Leslie’s car traveled just more than 229 feet before leaving the road and entering a ditch on the south side. The car continued for another 95 feet toward the edge of a bluff. It then plummeted more than 47 feet before hitting the water and flipping onto its roof.
Several people stopped to render aid after the accident. According to the report, five bystanders entered the water and flipped Leslie’s car over before pulling him from the water. Witnesses said the 16-year-old was initially unconscious with no pulse. Fayetteville firefighters performed CPR until Central Emergency Medical Service paramedics arrived at the scene. While transporting him to the Washington Regional Medical Center, paramedics were able to regain his pulse.
During an interview with police, witnesses said they thought Leslie had fallen asleep at the wheel due to the fact that they never saw his brake lights activate. Other witnesses stated that the tractor-trailer veered into Leslie’s lane, prompting him to swerve into oncoming traffic.
Fitch hosted a benefit dinner at the Parsons Arena Community Building on Nov. 22 to help pay for Leslie’s medical expenses. The fundraiser, which featured various raffle items and a pie auction, raised more than $8,000.
Donations for Leslie are still being accepted and can be made at any Arvest Bank branch location or by calling Fitch at 387-2428.
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