Beloved Dallas baseball coach seriously hurt in dirt bike crash
Coach suffers two brain bleeds in weekend dirt bike crash
Dallas baseball coach Chris Upton was airlifted to a hospital in Columbus with two brain bleeds after hitting a rut on a dirt bike in Howard County. His family reports that doctors expect a recovery, though he may spend up to a month in the ICU as community members step in to support his children.
DALLAS, Ga. - Dallas baseball coach Chris Upton is in the intensive care unit following a serious dirt bike accident over the weekend.
Coach in serious dirt bike crash
What we know:
Upton and his family were in Heard County in West Georgia celebrating his son's 11th birthday when the accident occurred. He was flown to a hospital in Columbus for treatment.
Family members said Upton suffered two brain bleeds, a broken scapula and a broken clavicle. Doctors remain hopeful that he will make a full recovery, though his family notes he could remain in the ICU for another month.
Upton has been a local baseball coach in Dallas, Georgia, for years, having coached both of his sons since they were 4 years old. Community members and the local baseball family began rallying around Upton and his family immediately following the incident.
Who is Coach Chris Upton?
What they're saying:
Chris Upton's sister-in-law, Kim Garrigus, described the moment the accident happened during the weekend outing.
"Chris was on a dirt bike and he hit a rut. When he hit that rut, it threw him off the dirt bike," Garrigus said.
Chris Upton (Family photo)
She detailed the extent of his injuries while sharing the medical updates provided by doctors.
"We have two brain bleeds, a broken scapula, broken clavicle," Garrigus said.
Garrigus spoke about Upton's character and his deep roots in the local sports community.
"They are a big baseball family. Chris is a baseball coach, he has been for years. The baseball family has really come together, and they are helping take care of the boys," Garrigus said. "He has coached both of the boys since they were 4."
She emphasized how much Upton means to those around him and how quickly the community stepped up to help.
"He is the shirt off your back kind of man, he would literally give you the shirt off his back," Garrigus said. "I could not ask for a better husband for my sister and a better dad for my nephews."
Garrigus expressed gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support during this difficult time.
"It really has been amazing how quickly everything came together and how much people are praying for him," Garrigus said. "It restores your faith in humanity when you see things like that come together."
Chris Upton. Courtesy of GoFundMe
What we don't know:
It remains unknown specifically which day over the weekend the dirt bike accident occurred.
Authorities have not released the exact hospital in Columbus where Upton is receiving treatment.
It is unclear how long Upton will require hospitalization beyond the potential month in the intensive care unit.
What you can do:
The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to support his recovery.