Oklahoma State wrestler A.J. Ferrari recovering after car accident Monday night
Scott WrightOklahoman
Oklahoma State wrestler A.J. Ferrari was recovering at OU Health on Tuesday morning, following a Monday night car accident that left him with internal bleeding and fluid on his lungs, but no broken bones.
Ferrari, who is a 20-year-old sophomore for the Cowboys, was in Cushing on Monday night, along with OSU track and cross country runner Isai Rodriguez, meeting with youth wrestlers, according to university officials.
The accident occurred at 8:10 p.m. on State Highway 33, approximately three miles east of Perkins, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.
Ferrari, who was driving, and Rodriguez were returning to Stillwater from the event in Cushing when Ferrari attempted to pass three vehicles while cresting a hill in a no-passing zone, the OHP report said.
Ferrari’s 2019 Dodge Durango crashed head-on with an oncoming pickup, causing Ferrari’s vehicle to roll an unknown number of times before coming to rest in a ditch.
The Oklahoman has confirmed that Oklahoma State assistant football coach Kasey Dunn was one of the first witnesses on the scene, and he pulled Ferrari from the vehicle, which had caught fire, as first reported by PokesReport.com. Dunn had not been in Cushing with the athletes, but by coincidence, was in the area on State Highway 33 when the crash occurred.
All parties in the accident were wearing seatbelts and there were no signs of impairment from anyone involved. The driver of the pickup was not injured. Rodriguez was transported to Stillwater Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries to his arms, legs and head.
Ferrari was airlifted to OU Health and remained there overnight.
Shortly before midnight, A.J. Ferrari Sr. provided an update on his son's condition at OU Health via Facebook, saying that Ferrari Jr. “has fluid on his lungs that is affecting his oxygen levels and some bad bruising with some internal bleeding, so they are keeping him here.
“It looks like a miracle that he didn't have anything broken or any long term head issues. If you saw the car and A.J., you would know this was a miracle.”
Ferrari Jr. won the 197-pound national title as a freshman last year and has been ranked No. 1 in the weight class all season, with a 10-0 record.
