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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Matt Grice is still sedated after undergoing emergency surgery to relieve brain swelling that resulted from a car wreck in Pottawatomie County, Okla., over the weekend.
To learn more about the terrible news that broke late last night click here.
His best friend, Daniel Rubenstein, has been providing frequent updates on Grice's condition from the hospital throughout the last 24 hours via Twitter.com. And even though his condition is "critical," it appears that there are positive signs such as "small pupils" that are "reacting to light," all of which indicate "brain activity."
Here is Rubenstein's latest update:
Matt is still sedated. Pupils reacting to light. Another catscan planned for tonight sometime. Matt’s wife went home to be with their girls.
— Daniel Rubenstein (@dannyrube) September 10, 2013
Meanwhile, Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued an official statement regarding the accident through its website. Grice is a five-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department.
"On Sunday, Sept 8th, at approximately 4pm off-duty Officer Matthew Grice (age 32) was involved in a serious multi-car accident in Shawnee, OK (accident investigated by Oklahoma Highway Patrol). The accident left him in critical condition. Officer Grice was transported to an Oklahoma City hospital, where his status is currently listed as confidential. The Grice family has asked for privacy as they deal with this sudden and unfortunate situation."
The Oklahoman has more details, which cites a patrol report, indicating that Grice was the only individual involved in the multi-vehicle crash who was not wearing a seat belt. He was rear-ended while at a complete stop by a distracted driver.
Here is that report:
"Grice, who was off duty, was stopped at a red light at U.S. 177 at 45th Street in Shawnee when he was hit from behind, according to the patrol report. Michael Monroe, 53, of Oklahoma City, said he was distracted by a passenger when he hit the Jeep.... Grice's Jeep hit another Jeep stopped at the red light. That driver, Christopher Seward, 23, of Sparks, was not injured. His passenger, Keely Seward, 21, of Sparks, was treated for a neck injury at a Shawnee hospital and released, the patrol reports. Monroe was not injured. A passenger in his van, Mason Seale, 8, of Bethany, was taken to OU Medical Center and admitted in good condition with a head injury, the patrol reports. Another passenger, Keandre Bruener, 11, of Oklahoma City, was not injured. Everyone involved in the crash wore a seat belt except Grice."
Grice was in line to fight Jeremy Larsen at the upcoming UFC 166: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3" pay-per-view (PPV) event on Oct. 19, 2013, in Houston, Texas, but that mixed martial arts (MMA) match will undoubtedly be canceled as he continues his delicate recovery.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this unfortunate situation as it develops.
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