Good news is coming out of Arizona today, as Amy Van Dyken Rouen’s family is reporting that the 6-time Olympic Gold Medalist may NOT be permanently paralyzed. Her family has confirmed that the Olympian has suffered a severed spinal cord (at the T11 vertebrae) and that bone fragments came very, very close to her heart (aorta) in what would have been a fatal injury. She is being moved to a rehabilitation facility now.
The latest update is fabulous news.
Spinal injuries are, all too often, the cause of life-changing paralysis and a future dealing with a permanent handicap. Fingers crossed and prayers being said for Amy Van Dyken Rouen to recover from this tragic ATV accident!
Last Friday, this record-breaking Olympian swimmer suffered severe spinal injuries and a reported severed spine in an all-terrain vehicle crash that happened in Show Low, Arizona. Amy told emergency first responders there at the scene that she could not feel anything in her legs or feet.
ATV Accidents Can Result In Serious Injuries and Paralysis
All-terrain vehicles are often used for recreation and entertainment and kids, as well as adults, ride these vehicles daily on weekends and on vacations. Amy Van Dyken Rouen was riding an ATV for fun, not for work. However, ATVs are notoriously lacking in regulation and safety protections.
All too often, people are seriously injured or killed in an ATV accident. Some of this incidents may well be due to design failure or defects in the product (ATV) itself.
From ATVSafety come these law summaries for Indiana and Illinois:
All ATVs purchased after 12/31/05 must be titled.
All ATVs operated on public lands must be registered; renewal is once every three years.
No one under 14 years old can operate an ATV unless on his or her parent’s land or under direct supervision of an adult 18 years of age or older.
ATV use on paved roads is prohibited, except to cross these roads.
All ATVs operated on lands in public Off- Highway Vehicle parks must have a public access sticker.
ATVs are not permitted to be operated on paved roads or highways, except to cross the roads.
