Fort Kent’s Theriault leaves Las Vegas hospital after truck race crash

LAS VEGAS — Fort Kent native Austin Theriault was released from an area hospital Sunday after he crashed head-on into a concrete wall while competing in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, according to a statement released by Brad Keselowski Racing team.

Theriault, 21, was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas where he underwent a comprehensive CT scan, Brad Keselowski Racing said in a news release Sunday morning.

The scan revealed a “compression fracture in his lower back,” according to the release. Theriault will travel to North Carolina where “he will follow up with an orthopedic specialist for further treatment.”

Theriault made a brief statement via his Twitter account on Sunday.

“The next few weeks with be tough,” he said. “But there are better days ahead. Humbled to have @TeamBKR behind me, friends, fans, and family.”

The crash occurred 14 laps into the Rhino Linings 350 when Tyler Reddick, Theriault’s teammate with Brad Keselowski Racing, got loose in turn 4 and was not able to control his truck, which hit the rear of Theriault’s truck and pushed him into a part of the wall that was not protected by a Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barrier.

Following the crash, Theriault was shown getting out of the truck, but was then put on a backboard and into an ambulance. He was alert and communicating, according to a report on NASCAR.com.

“I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” Theriault said late Saturday night on his Twitter account.

Saturday night’s race was the eighth of 13 Theriault was scheduled to run this season for Brad Keselowski Racing. He finished eighth in last week’s race in Loudon, New Hampshire, and 13th the week before in Joliet, Illinois.

Theriault, who turned 21 Jan. 23, had spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a developmental driver in the Super Late Model program for Brad Keselowski Racing before the team dropped the program.

No further details were immediately available early Sunday afternoon.

Watch Bangordailynews.com for updates.