Patrick Culligan wasn’t the only victim of the mountain during Sunday’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but he had by far the scariest accident as a boulder virtually sliced his 2000 Enviate Pikes Peak Special in half. Culligan was airlifted to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken pelvis and right femur, but is in fairly good spirits and hopes to recover and return to action eventually.

“I’m OK and reasonably hard to kill it seems,” Culligan quipped on social media. “Broken femur and pelvis. No TBI (traumatic brain injury) thankfully. We will be back.”

The crash happened as Culligan hit a newer patch of pavement. The transition from old to new had a bump that caused his car to get loose before spinning into the rocks on the side, and the impact was so substantial that it destroyed the front end. The wreckage spun several times before coming to a stop along the side of the road.

He remained conscious throughout the crash and was alert as help arrived. Culligan was airlifted by UCHealth LifeLine to UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs, where he underwent a successful surgery on Monday that entailed placing a titanium rod in his right femur.

“Patrick and his family are grateful for the outstanding care he has received from the medical teams with UCHealth, as well as the swift response from race safety personnel and first responders,” reads a joint statement from the PPIHC and his family.

“The Culligan family and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb thank the racing community, friends and fans for their support, prayers and well wishes, and look forward to seeing Patrick back behind the wheel in the future.”

Featured image credit: Greg Schwarzer