Jason Priestley in nightmare smash

Hollywood actor Jason Priestley is today fighting for his life after his car crashed into a wall at 180mph.

He has a fracture in the middle of his spine, a head injury and broken bones in both feet.

The Beverly Hills 90210 star was taking part in a practice race for the Indy 500 at the Kentucky Speedway when his car spun out of control.

Priestley, 32, crashed in the final practice for the Kentucky 100. His car careered sideways before slamming into the wall. He was taken from the track by helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Centre in nearby Lexington.

Indy Racing League medical director Henry Bock said Priestley was having tests but was "stable and responding". The accident echoes that of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, a passionate horserider who was paralysed when he sustained a spinal cord injury falling from his horse while jumping a fence. He remains in a wheelchair.

A fellow member of Kelley Racing, Priestley's team, said the actor had sustained facial injuries. Former Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk said: "He got sideways and he corrected and then shot off the track.

"He turned right into the wall, and his first impact was basically head-on." Luyendyk added that Priestley appeared to have driven through some "oil-dry", an absorbent material that had been spread on the track about 10 minutes earlier to soak up oil from a leak.

Priestley has always had a passion for fast cars. He took up racing in 1991 and was once said to change his vehicle every month. Also a keen ice hockey player, he once said: "I'm far safer behind a wheel then on an ice rink."

Jason Priestley in nightmare smash
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