American F2 Driver in Induced Coma After Last Weeks F2 Crash in Belgium

Victor Westerkamp
By Victor Westerkamp
September 9, 2019Sports News
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American F2 Driver in Induced Coma After Last Weeks F2 Crash in Belgium
Track marshals look on as a crane lift parts of the damaged car of Sauber's Ecuadorian driver Juan Manuel Correa onto a truck following a serious accident involving several drivers during a Formula 2 race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium, on August 31, 2019. (REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images)

During the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on Sept. 1, a 20-year-old Ecuador born American F2 driver, Juan Manuel Correa crashed his race car at full speed (approximately 160 mph) into 22-year-old French driver Anthoine Hubert’s race car.

Hubert was killed in the crash. Correa, suffering from two broken legs and a spine injury, was transported to a hospital in Liege; there he underwent four hours of surgery. Doctors said Correa was in a critical but stable condition. He was then transported to a London hospital for further treatment, the BBC reported.

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Mechanics sit in a deserted pit lane following a serious accident involving several drivers during a Formula 2 race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium, on August 31, 2019. (Remco de Waal/AFP/Getty Images)

A statement released by Correa’s family read: “As time has progressed, new complications have surfaced as a consequence of the massive impact he (Correa) suffered in Belgium.

“On his arrival to London, Juan Manuel was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This is an injury considered common in high-impact accidents such as this one. Unfortunately, this injury resulted in Juan Manuel falling into Acute Respiratory Failure.

“Juan Manuel is currently in an Intensive Care Unit that specializes in respiratory injuries. At this point of time, he is an in induced state of unconsciousness and under ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support. Juan Manuel is in critical but stable condition.

“We are confident that our son will surprise us like he always does with his tremendous fighting will and strength and will recover completely.

“Maria and I (Correa’s parents) wish to take this opportunity to give our condolences to the Hubert family for their loss. Our hearts are broken, and we can only imagine the pain this loss has brought them.”

Last week the Formula 1 organization observed a minute of silence to the other driver involved in the crash, Anthoine Hubert.

Anthoine Hubert: F1 Observes Minute of Silence at Grand Prix in Belgium

The Formula 1 racing organization has announced a minute’s silence ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix in Belgium in memory of Anthoine Hubert, the Formula 2 driver who was killed in an accident.

Hubert lost his life in Saturday’s Formula 2 race at Spa, after being involved in a crash during the second lap of the race.

“The 22-year-old Frenchman, who was part of Renault’s driver academy, was involved in a multi-car incident at Turn 4,” said the Formula 1 official page. “He was taken to the medical center, but sadly succumbed to his injuries.”

American Juan Manuel Correa suffered fractures to both of his legs and a minor spinal injury, Sky News reported. Members of his team were quoted in the report as saying Correa had undergone surgery and remains in stable condition.

A one-minute silence was held on the grid before Sunday morning’s F3 race, with the Formula 3 Twitter account posting a photo of drivers and crew members standing in honor of the deceased driver.

According to an announcement by Formula 2, Sunday morning’s F2 sprint race was canceled out of respect for the deceased driver, which the organization called “a fantastic driver who had a bright future ahead of him.”

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