Jason Priestley is looking back on the terrifying 2002 racing accident that left him with devastating injuries and brought his heart to a stop twice before doctors stabilized him.
Jason, 57, revisited the ordeal on the Tuesday, September 8, episode of Michael Rosenbaum’s “Inside of You” podcast. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum revealed how serious his condition became during the helicopter flight to the hospital.
What Happened to Jason Priestley After His 2002 Crash?
“I bled to death in the helicopter on the way to the hospital,” Jason recalled. “I was flatlined when I landed on top of the hospital, and they restarted my heart on the roof of the hospital.”
Medical workers quickly gave him several bags of O-negative blood. But the emergency was not over. “They restarted my heart again,” he continued. “Then, I was okay after that.”
Jason was practicing for the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series at Kentucky Auto Racing Speedway when he lost control of his race car and struck a wall head-on at nearly 180 mph, ESPN reported in 2002.
Why Doesn’t Jason Priestley Remember the Accident?
Jason said much of the period surrounding the crash remains missing from his memory.
“I lost about three weeks, three and a half weeks,” he explained. “It was, I don’t know, my 12th or 13th concussion. I suffered three skull fractures. I was pretty shook up for a while.”
GettyHis father documented the weeks that followed, giving Jason a record of a recovery he could barely remember himself.
“My dad took pictures of everything,” he recalled. “Tons of pictures of my face and what had happened.”
Jason said the crash caused extensive injuries to his face and head. “My nose got ripped off,” he continued. “My orbital bone and my cheekbone and my ocular mantle collapsed.”
How Long Did Jason Priestley’s Recovery Take?
Jason described the roughly three-month rehabilitation process as “tough,” but credited the medical professionals around him with helping him recover.
He later returned to the racetrack and met the helicopter pilots who transported him to the hospital.
“I went back to the racetrack, actually, where it happened, and I met the helicopter pilots who flew me to the hospital because I wanted to thank them, and they looked at me like they were looking at a ghost,” Jason remembered.
“It was pretty crazy, but I thought it was super cool.”
Does Jason Priestley Have Lasting Effects From the Crash?
More than two decades later, Jason said he has been fortunate not to experience significant ongoing health problems from the accident. “I have no lingering effects from it,” he explained. “My feet healed up perfectly. My spine is fused, and it doesn’t bother me at all.”
The actor acknowledged just how fortunate he was to survive the crash and recover with the help of his doctors, family, and rehabilitation team. For Jason, one experience of that magnitude was more than enough.
