By Jonathan Smith, Staff Writer

Casey Salmon is recovering from several hours of surgery over the weekend to restore circulation in his left foot and leg from injuries sustained in a single-car accident Thursday.

Salmon, junior management major from Amarillo, was on his way home around 5 p.m. near Lubbock when he swerved to miss something on the road, causing his car to roll over five to eight times.

Salmon was thrown from the car, leaving his buckled seatbelt still intact. The rear axle of the car broke off and landed on his stomach and legs, according to information given to Jan Meyer, director of student leadership development.

He was taken to Lubbock’s University Medical Center and went through a couple surgeries to restore circulation in his leg. He was at risk of losing his foot, but several hours of surgery has corrected the problem and lessened the danger. He received third-degree burns on his neck and back and had internal injuries to his spleen that should not require further surgery. He also broke his lower leg and will have to be in a cast for about six months.

“He’s pretty heavily medicated, which for Casey means he’s cracking jokes right and left, because he’s got a great sense of humor,” Meyer said. “So he’s not in a whole lot of pain, and they think the surgery they did is going to work on his leg.”

Jeff Sickles, junior Christian ministry major from Amarillo and Salmon’s roommate and fellow member of Frater Sodalis, visited his friend Thursday. Sickles was able to speak with Salmon when he visited again Sunday.

“He had cuts and bruises everywhere,” Sickles said, after seeing Salmon after his surgeries Sunday. “Otherwise, he was doing pretty good.”

After speaking with him Sunday, Sickles said Salmon was “back to his same old self.”

Meyer said she had heard he was in good spirits, and Sickles said that people who know Salmon know that it is his spirit that will help him through the coming weeks and months.

“He’s definitely spirited,” Sickles said. “Whenever we got to the hospital the first time, his mom kept saying, ‘He’s a fighter.'”