BITD: Tim Staab medical update 2001-12-08

Off-road Honda rider, Tim Staab remains in an induced coma at University Medical Center in Las Vegas following his accident at the Las Vegas 200 in Jean, Nevada. On Saturday, December 1, Staab hit a loose rock leading to a serious head injury to the veteran racer.

Staab and partner, Johnny Campbell won both of the longest races in 2000 -- the Nevada 2000 and the Baja 2000. In 2001, they repeated their accomplishment at the Baja 1000. They won their class championships in Best in the Desert and SCORE International last year.

This year, the final BITD event showed the two of them trailing Jonah Street and Steve Helgeveld for the BITD Open Pro Motorcycle class championship. Staab and Campbell knew they had to finish in the top five and beat Street and Helgeveld by two positions.

At the time of the accident, shortly after taking over the Honda from teammate, Campbell, Staab was sitting second overall and second in class. When the accident happened, the first person on the scene was fellow rider David Fry (at the time third overall) and fourth overall Doug Chiapuzio arrived shortly after Fry. Within a few mintues, the BITD Medical Coordinator, Owen Palmer Jr. (OJ) arrived and immediately called for the airlift and the BITD Medical Director, Dr. Frederick Lippmann. Within minutes, Staab was airlifted to University Medical Center.

The swelling in Staab's head has stabilized; however, he remains in a medically induced coma under further observations. He is still listed in critical condition but stable at this time. No further word has been received on the bleeding that was previously reported.

We, at Motorsport.com, will continue to monitor Staab's progress and will keep him and his family in our thoughts.