The community is rallying around a Fort Campbell soldier who was critically injured in a motorcycle crash. The Iron Rockets are a motorcy...
The community is rallying around a Fort Campbell soldier who was critically injured in a motorcycle crash.
The Iron Rockets are a motorcycle club that raises money for charities. They are now trying to help one of their own.
“He’s your fun, active, goofy guy,” said Zachary Tablack, Clarksville president of the Iron Rockets. “He’s that guy if you’re upset, he’s going to make sure he’s going to make you happy.”
Nick Sprowl, a soldier who couldn’t do enough for others, joined the charitable motorcycle club so he could do more.
“This guy volunteers as a football coach. His wife is a volunteer cheerleading coach,” Tablack said. “All his time is to benefit others.”
Police said Nick Sprowl was riding his motorcycle on Fort Campbell Boulevard when 79-year-old Nell Phillips pulled out in front of him. Sprowl didn’t have time to stop.
“I hope that she fully understands what she has done,” said his wife, Stephanie Sprowl. “That her careless act has changed our lives forever. We want him back. What we’re getting is not the same person.”
Phillips has been charged with failure to use reasonable care.
“It’s like hitting a brick wall at 50 mph,” Tablack said. “He didn’t go anywhere. He didn’t go over the car, he didn’t go under it. He hit it and lay there.”
Wednesday, Nick Sprowl was still in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has already undergone several surgeries.
Stephanie Sprowl, said her husband’s injuries are so intense, she hasn’t left his side for six days. Meanwhile, she's trying to hold her family together.
“He’s not doing well,” she said. “He’s a fighter. He’s definitely trying.”
Nick Sprowl returned from active duty in March. He is suffering from a fractured spine, damaged organs, and a broken sternum, ribs, arms and both hands.
“He has brain damage in his frontal lobe on the right side,” his wife said.
Stephanie Sprowl hopes her family’s story reminds everyone to be more careful and alert, especially around motorcycles.
The Iron Rockets have started raising money to help the family.
“They’ve got five kids together, and school just started up,” Tablack said. “I know the kids are in a lot of school activities. Now with funds being low and her being there, it’s a big strain on the family.”
More than raising money, the Iron Rockets are standing at Nick Sprowl and his family's side.
“First thing he asked me was to get all his cast and everything off of him,” Tablack said. “He said my name, and that was that. And a little while later, he asked his wife, he said, ‘Get this stuff off of me. I want to get out of here.’”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with medical expenses.
A charity motorcycle ride will be held in Clarksville on Sept. 12.
More: http://www.wsmv.com/story/29887462/motorcycle-club-raising-money-for-wounded-soldier
