Wreck victim emerges from coma

Published 12:03 am Thursday, January 6, 2011

The man critically injured and air lifted after a Dec. 30 wreck near Gantt has emerged from his coma, co-workers said Wednesday.

Corry Burton of Red Level, a waiter at Beef O’Brady’s, was a passenger in the a one-vehicle wreck and suffered a serious head injury. He was transported via helicopter to Baptist South in Montgomery and placed in the ICU unit.

Yan Varihitt, Beef’s general manager, said family members have been updating Burton’s coworkers almost daily.

“As of (Tuesday), we were told (hospital personnel) were moving Corry to a room,” Varihitt said. “They said his brain was responding to pain, holding hands and blinking his eyes. They said he should get to come home in a week to week and a half.”

Varihitt did not know about Burton’s long-term prognosis.

State Troopers said Burton and fellow passenger Craig Fisher were partially ejected from the vehicle. The driver, Hillery Hooks II, of Red Level, and Fisher were taken to Andalusia Regional Hospital, treated and released. None of the occupants were wearing seatbelts.

It is unknown what caused the accident; however, an eyewitness reported she had to swerve to keep from hitting the vehicle when it crossed into her lane.