Shawn Cowie, a championship contending racer in the NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster division, was critically injured on Saturday night when the motorcycle he was riding was struck from behind by a vehicle on Interstate 40 in Nashville, TN. The incident occurred at 10:30 PM near mile marker 207 in Nashville when the 29-year old Cowie, from Delta, British Columbia, was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by 20-year old Analisa Ramirez. The impact threw Cowie from his motorcycle and over the edge of the overpass where he fell some 30 feet to the ground and landed in shrubbery on 21st Avenue North.
Said Metro Police Captain Chris Taylor in a News Channel 5 interview, “To get a better grasp of it, he was struck by a vehicle with enough force not just to throw him off the interstate but underneath the interstate. It was probably a thirty foot fall.”
After striking Cowie, Ramirez lost control of her vehicle and careened into the guardrail, where she was ejected from the car and into the highway median. Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and police believe at this time that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
Cowie was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville with serious, life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition. He was to undergo surgery at 11:00 AM CST this morning. His condition is reported to be improving.
According to Cowie’s tuner Bill Moore, Shawn and his cousin Nick Duperon were on their way to this weekends NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte and had stopped in Nashville to “see the sights.”
Said Moore via InsideTopAlcohol.com: It is with a heavy heart that I post this. Shawn Cowie was struck by a car on his motorcycle last night in Nashville. Information is early but a car lost control and came into Shawn and Nicks lane. Shawn suffered severe injuries and is critical. There is a chance that he may lose his leg. Nick is okay physically. They were on their way with the rig to the Charlotte race and had stopped in Nashville to “see the sights”. Will post more when we know more.
Shawn finished third nationally in Top Alcohol Dragster last season is his family-owned blown alcohol dragster and most recently won the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas. He currently sits second in the Lucas Oil national points standings and leads the NHRA’s Northwest Division 6 standings.