Ben Estill knows all about how life can change in a split second.
The former Taft High and Bakersfield College running back standout calls himself lucky and happy he's alive after he was involved in a head-on automobile accident early Sunday morning.
"I don't remember anything," Estill said Tuesday in a telephone interview from his Kern Medical Center hospital room. "It's amazing how fast it can happen. You go from working to waking up in the hospital."
Estill, 21, said he was driving eastbound on Truxtun Avenue approaching Oak Street around 2:45 a.m. when the accident occurred. His job was delivering newspapers for The Californian.
According to a report by the Bakersfield police, a pickup driven by Fidel Cordero, 19, of Bakersfield crossed over into the westbound lanes and hit Estill's Toyota Previa mini-van head-on.
According to police, the investigation is continuing. But police say alcohol and excessive speed "both appear to be factors in this collision."
Estill's right femur was fractured in three places and he also suffered a broken right hand. He underwent surgery so a titanium rod could be used to connect the factured bones between his right hip and knee.
Estill said he has been told it will take about 18 months for a full recovery.
He said during the season that he planned to go on a church mission in 2010. That is put on hold.
"I just finished up the paperwork the day before it happened," Estill said. "I can't leave until I'm healthy and fit."
He is also enrolled in classes at BC in the spring semester that starts early in 2010. "So I can't put my life on hold too long," he said.
Estill said he's optimistic he'll be discharged from KMC and able to go home by Christmas. He said he's been able to get out of bed with the aid of a walker.
Estill helped BC to a 10-2 season this fall by leading the team with 1,062 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, the 13th player in program history with a 1,000-yard season.
He ranks 12th on BC's all-time career rushing list with 1,521 yards.
As a senior at Taft High in the 2005 season, he had 2,660 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.
1 comment:
We read about this in the paper. So glad he is okay! (not that a broken leg and hand can be qualified as "ok", but we're just glad it wasn't worse.) We are all thinking of him and wishing him a speedy recovery. I hope he can be home for Christmas! If not, you guys can have a fun party in the hospital! You could even go caroling to cheer up some other hospital patients. :)
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