BENTONVILLE — Circuit Judge Brad Karren was injured Sunday in a bicycling accident and is being treated in a Missouri hospital.
Karren was riding his bicycle along the Compton Gardens' trails with his son when the accident happened. Paramedics were dispatched at 1:58 p.m. Sunday to the bike trail north of Northeast A and Seventh streets. Paramedics left the scene at 2:23 p.m., according to dispatch records.
Karren was airlifted from Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., according to his wife, Anita.
Information about Karren's accident was posted on his Facebook page Sunday. Karren was described as being alert and in stable condition, according to the Facebook posting.
Anita Karren said Monday that his prognosis is excellent. There are fractures in Karren's neck, but his neurosurgeon believes there is no spinal cord or brain damage, she said.
Karren remains in the hospital's intensive care unit where a medical team installed a neck stabilization device, his wife said.
Anita Karren said if the procedure goes well, the medical team predicts he could be released from the hospital within the week.
Retired Circuit Judge David Clinger filled in for Karren on Monday. Clinger will be on the bench the remainder of the week.
NW News on 04/15/2014