Ray Elmore, the assistant chief at Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department who had his leg amputated last week after a motorcycle crash, is awake and in good spirits.
Doctors removed Elmore’s breathing tube on Saturday, according to a blog entry his family posted on caringbridge.org.
“As soon as the tube was removed he was full of jokes and smart responses,” the family wrote. “He was brought to tears at the simple ability to even be able to speak.”
Elmore, 45, is also being treated for severe injuries to his left arm, pelvis and trachea, fire officials said. He had his left leg amputated following the crash and continues to undergo surgeries.
The driver who officials say caused the crash, 34-year-old Megan Brooke Beaver of Mocksville, is facing charges of driving left of center, operating a vehicle without insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle, having a fictitious or altered registration card or tag, driving with unsafe tires and driving a car that hadn’t been inspected.