The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had surgery to repair facial fractures suffered during a motorcycle accident, was upgraded to fair condition and could be discharged in three to five days, a doctor said Tuesday.
Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital, said Roethlisberger was “alert and awake� and with his family.
Roethlisberger was riding his black 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa when he collided with a car late Monday morning, police said. He fractured his upper and lower jaws, broke his nose, fractured other facial bones, had multiple head lacerations, suffered a mild concussion, and lost two teeth and chipped several others, Jones said Tuesday.
Despite the concussion, a CT scan showed no injury.
“His brain is functioning normally,� Jones said.
Roethlisberger, 24, became the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship in February.
He was initially listed in serious but stable condition before and after seven hours of surgery to repair his facial fractures on Monday.
Nobody has been cited in the crash and police will not release information until an accident reconstruction is complete, Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Tammy Ewin said Tuesday.
Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet when he crashed and says he prefers not to wear one. Pennsylvania’s law requiring motorcycle helmets was repealed in 2003.
In May 2005, coach Bill Cowher warned him about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season.
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