Surgeons Save Villwock’s Hand After Near Amputation In Crash Doctors Say Bud Hydro Driver Has The ‘Potential’ To Make Full Recovery

Doctors Monday repaired “a near amputation” of unlimited hydroplane driver Dave Villwock’s right hand after he was injured Sunday in a spectacular crash in the Budweiser Columbia Cup.

Larry Zalin, spokesman for Harborview Medical Center, said Villwock underwent 6 hours of surgery overnight on his hand, followed by several more hours of surgery to repair damage to his right forearm. He was in serious condition.

Villwock, driver of the Miss Budweiser, also suffered a head injury, but was awake and talking prior to his surgery, Zalin said.

Villwock, 42, was traveling an estimated 200 mph into the first turn of the championship heat of the race at Kennewick when the bright red boat hit some rough water on the Columbia River course, flipped skyward and crashed onto its top.

Villwock was knocked unconscious as his oxygen mask and helmet were torn off, but was rescued quickly by divers, revived and rushed to Kennewick General Hospital.

He was later flown to Harborview, where he entered surgery shortly after midnight.

Zalin said Villwock suffered “a near amputation of his right hand,” but surgeons were able to repair damage to the nerves, arteries and tendons. He said doctors believe Villwock has the potential to make a full recovery.

Villwock won the national title last year with the PICO team. He was hired to replace longtime Bud driver Chip Hanauer, who quit last year after being hurt in a crash in qualifying for the Gold Cup in Detroit.

Sunday’s race was restarted after the wreckage was cleared and Mark Evans drove the PICO American Dream to victory, finishing with an average speed of 146.489 mph.