Tow Truck Driver Struck - 09.19.23 (PA) "Updated 10.06.23"

[TowForce]

Notification from Elliott's Towing LLC:

 

Sadly our driver Russell was struck by a car along Rt. 222 N at the Brownstown ramp on Tuesday afternoon. He is currently in critical condition in the hospital. Our prayers are with Russell and his family. We will update his condition as we get information.

 

 

[TowForce]

Tow truck driver seriously injured after crash in Lancaster County

 

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — The driver of a sedan is cooperating with police after a crash sent a tow truck driver to the hospital.

 

West Earl Township Police state the incident happened on Tuesday at around 2:56 p.m. at the entrance ramp for 222 North and Rt. 772 (Brownstone Entrance/Exit Ramps).

 

Multiple crews responded to the scene, learning that a tow truck and sedan had collided.

 

Authorities report that the driver of the tow truck was sent to Lancaster General Hospital for life saving medical care.

 

Police say the driver of the sedan is cooperating with them regarding the investigation.

 

The entrance ramp was shut down for a period of time but is now open to all traffic.

 

Resource Link

[TowForce]

UPDATED 09.23.23 - This was sent this from a FB Topic:

 

Still not much of a change. There are a few things that they tried today that I will explain.

 

•They clamped the ventricular drain this morning to see if his body could drain the fluids on it's own. Unfortunately his ICP (intracranial pressure), BP and HR shot up and they had to intervene and drain it. They did this for a few hours. When they would open it back up, his vitals would go back to normal.

 

•They gave him some meds to help with his neurostorming. He did start those yesterday but they were expected to reach peak and be a little stronger today. So far he has been calm with little to no storms.

 

• He did not have a fever all day. He actually got back to a normal temp without the big cooling blanket. They did however attach cooling pads (arctic sun) on both legs, his side and his back. Just in case they would need it quickly. He started a slight fever at night but tylenol helped bring it back down. No cooling blankets needed So they actually removed them but have them still close by just in case.

 

•They took his catheter out today. They wanted to see his body start to do every day things on it's own. If not, they would intervene. Which at their midnight rounds, they did have to do.

 

•He is being given nutrients through a tube now as well.

•He is still initiating breaths on his own over the vent. Today the highest bpm was 21 of his own!

•He is still sedated but they still are turning it off for some time to see how long he can tolerate it.

•He has also been given an additional pain medication because his coughing spells are thought to be more of a pain response then just a cough.

•Still on his antiseizure meds just to be safe.

•Still no MRI. He is tolerating more movements than before but still with the pressure increase when being laid flat or even slightly moving to a flatter position, its still just too much for him.

 

So for now I will end today's update with, He is very calm.

 

Good day!

Keep praying please, it is working

 

"if anyone knows who originally posted this information we would like to recognize them."

[TowNews]

Todd Leiss posted: Russell Update #9

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Update on Injured Pennsylvania Tow Truck Operator struck on Route 222 in Lancaster County

 

He finally got down for the MRI yesterday. He did good all day off of all his meds still. He gets a push of pain meds when needed when his blood pressure goes up and he seems agitated. However, the MRI did prove he had severe brain damage. Where we go from here is all up to Russell. We will not give up on him, we will not leave him by himself. We will be right by his side through all of it no matter how long it takes because we will be bringing him home at some point. Just may not be as soon as we had hoped.

 

Please continue to pray because he needs them more than ever now.

 

He has a very very long road ahead and with it comes ups and downs.

 

Today he is also doing very well at maintaining good vitals and a good temperature. We started his daily exercises to help with his muscle strengthening.

 

We remain optimistic and hopeful.

[EdsTowing]

Our thoughts & prayers are with Russell and his family...Godspeed.

[TowForce]

Todd Leiss Posted Russell Update

 

Update on the Pennsylvania Tow Truck Operator struck on Route 222 in Lancaster County

PA op update

Russell Update #15

Still not awake but there is still very much eye movement. He side eyes nurses when they come in and do the mouth care routine. It's his least favorite thing. His eyes seem to stay open longer when you irritate him.

Today has been pretty steady though. He had a few moment's where his heart rate would become elevated. As usual he brings it back down. Some times he needs a little extra coaxing. His temperature hasn't gone past 99.7 which seems to be his normal at this point. They said as long as it doesn't pass 100.4 it's not considered a fever.

We have propped him up now for 3 days with travel neck pillows to keep him from getting pressure sores on his ears from extended laying periods on one side. He seems to like the pillows and they dont get in the way of the trache either.

He is still coughing up thick mucus but not coughing as much as he was with the tube in his mouth. As much as the trache was a scary unknown territory, I'm glad we did it. He has so much more progress and movement. His oxygen levels are really good too. They are between 96 and 99 and thats ALL HIM! Even with all the nastiness in his lungs.

The 2nd lung culture came back negative again for pneumonia. I mean there is something going on in his body we just have to play the check list game and figure it out.

They are giving him breathing treatments through the trach I believe every 4 hours.

They did send for urine cultures and they did a blood draw for blood infections. Should have those results by tomorrow sometime.

I spoke with the case manager today and they are going to have therapy come in the room in the next few days and do an assessment and see where his needs lie. This could also determine if he would need a longer term care facility or if he just would need rehab. This also all depends on when he wakes up. We really know nothing about what he will or could need until he's awake.

Until then we keep his temp steady, keep him calm and wait it out.

There's a lot of waiting it out with brain injuries. They heal slower than any other part of the body.