Tulsa street luger in hospital after dangerous crash

A woman injured in a luge accident says she has no regrets about pursuing the extreme sport.<br/><br/>News on 6 Reporter Emory Bryan says it's an unusual sport for Oklahoma, but we have some of the

Friday, August 12th 2005, 3:06 pm

By: News On 6

A woman injured in a luge accident says she has no regrets about pursuing the extreme sport.

News on 6 Reporter Emory Bryan says it's an unusual sport for Oklahoma, but we have some of the country's top people right here. They ride some hills right here in Tulsa and take plenty of precautions.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Stacy Allen was at the top of her game. As the country's top ranked female in street luging, she had gathered a following in the circles of extreme sports.

Her boyfriend Bill Smrtic, competed with her, in fact, he taught her how to ride. They were approaching 60 miles an hour, when something happened.

Bill Smrtic: â€œWe're chalking it up to a freak accident....â€

Four weeks after the accident, Bill is at Stacy's side and amazed by her spirit.

Bill Smrtic: "She gets something in her mind and she can make it happen."

And what Bill is hoping, along with Stacy's countless friends and family, is that Stacy might one day walk.

The accident that hurt them both broke Stacy's arms and ribs, her clavicle and five veterbrae. It injured her spine and she is paralyzed from the waist down.

Stacy Allen: "These bones will alll heal, and I can from my waist up I can manuver and I still have my brain and my head, so that's all good."

Since the accident, Stacy's coworkers at Spirit Bank have lifted her spirits and friends from all over the world have sent cards. For herself and for them, she promises to make the most of the 10 to 20% chance she has of walking.

She doesn't remember the accident, but has seen the pictures and knows it could have been even worse.

Stacy Allen: "You can't really look at why did this happen and why did it happen to me and should I be luging and I had rather have walked in those shoes and felt that feeling of skydiving and street luging having a great time living life to the fullest than read a book about it and wonder what it felt like."

Her helmet helped Stacy survive, but support from Spirit Pank where she works, and from lots of friends, is what she believes will help her recover.

She's about to be transferred from Tulsa to a spinal rehab center in Denver, where she hopes to work on walking. She's incredibly grateful to all the support she's gotten from Tulsa, but she's still got a long way to go.