Former Rep Allen West was hospitalized on Saturday after a motorcycle wreck on his way home from an open Texas rally. According to police West and another motorcyclist were traveling down the highway when suddenly a car unsafely changed lanes, causing West to hit the brakes. The cycle behind him could not stop in time and hit him. West suffered a concussion and several fractured bones as well as bruises and contusions.
West moved from Florida to Texas after he lost his reelection to the House. He is currently running for the leadership of the Texas Republican party. He plans to spend another week or so of rest after he is released before resuming his campaign for the top slot in the Republican party.
UPDATE:
1/2 According to law enforcement on the scene, a car cut LTC West off, resulting in two motorcycles colliding, one of which was his. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and undergoing assessment.#PrayersForAllen
— Allen West (@AllenWest) May 24, 2020
The accident occurred around 5 p.m. on the northbound side of Interstate 35 near mile marker 353 outside Waco, the Texas Department of Public Safety told KWTX-TV of Central Texas.
In a series of posts using the hashtag #PrayersForAllen, “Team West” reported that a car had cut off West while he was riding his motorcycle, causing West to collide with another motorcyclist.
West was reportedly transported to a hospital by helicopter and was in stable condition but undergoing further assessment of his condition.
The exact nature of West’s injuries was unclear and no details were available about whether other people were injured.
Earlier Saturday, West led a “Texas Freedom Rally” at the Statehouse in Austin after reportedly leading a motorcycle group there from Dallas, the Dallas Morning News reported.
The accident happened while West and others were returning to Dallas, former state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, told the newspaper.