Bronc rider showing progress after broken neck at circuit finals

Posted Saturday, January 13, 2007

HARRISBURG, Pa. – PRCA saddle bronc rider Bill Lewis, of Elizabeth, Colorado, appears to be making progress, after being seriously injured while competing in the First Frontier Circuit Finals here on Thursday, Jan. 11.

    During his ride on an unidentified bronc, Lewis lost his seat and went forward over the bronc’s head. Lewis hit the dirt hard, head-first, in an ugly wreck.

    After landing in the arena, Lewis was not moving. It took the paramedics approximately 15 minutes to stabilize Lewis and place him on a backboard to remove him from the arena, to encouraging cheers from the crowd. During that time, he was reported to be conscious but not moving.

    Lewis broke his neck in the buck off. Surgery was performed in an area hospital on Friday, Jan. 12. At that time, surgeons fused the C3 and C4 vertebrae.

    It was reported that Lewis has feeling and motion in all of his extremities.

Lewis has been a regular competitor in the First Frontier Circuit, and has traveled to the national Circuit Finals championships in Pocatello, Idaho representing the circuit. He was currently in the points lead for the saddle bronc title again in the circuit at the time of his injury.

Sent in by Gary Williams  [Gary.R.Williams@ElPaso.com]