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Bezerra Moved Out of ICU, Remains in Coma

5 February 1998

FAIRFIELD, N.J. -- Thiago Bezerra, of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, was upgraded from Orlando Regional Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit into the Progressive Care Unit, but he remains in a coma after his accident during the January 24 U.S. F2000 National Championship race at Walt Disney World Speedway.

Bezerra's vital functions have stabilized, and he was taken off ventilators prior to his move to the "step-down" Progressive Care Unit.

The 20-year-old suffered a diffuse brain injury due to rotational acceleration/deceleration (rapid stop) when his car struck the wall on lap 40 of the 50-lap race.