US actor Jason Priestley injured in race car crash

Kentucky:

American actor Jason Priestley's racecar crashed head-on into a wall at nearly 290 kilometers per hour on Sunday at the Kentucky Speedway, breaking his back and leaving him in serious condition with a concussion and other injuries. The former Beverly Hills 90210 television star was on a respirator to keep him sedated, but he was breathing on his own and was alert, Indy Racing League medical director Henry Bock said. Priestley was flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center with a spinal fracture in the middle of his back and a closed head injury, as well as a broken nose and broken bones in both feet, Bock said. "At this time, there's no indication there's any other injury to the head, besides a concussion. His vital signs are stable," Bock said. Priestley, 32, crashed coming out of the second turn in the final practice for the Kentucky 100, an Infiniti Pro Series race. A native of British Columbia, he became a TV heartthrob starring with Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth in the Fox network's Beverly Hills 90210 which ran from 1990 to 2000. He was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and produced and directed a number of documentaries, television dramas, cable network specials and music videos. Priestley began racing in 1991 in the California Rally Series and won his first race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1998.(AP)