Lucky escape for young driver

One of Victoria’s bright young stars of harness racing, Ryan Sanderson, is resting at home after escaping serious injuries in a road accident.

Sanderson, 20, was driving on the Nagambie to Heathcote road on Tuesday (Mar 19), when his vehicle skidded in wet conditions and hit a tree.

“He was very lucky to walk away,” Ryan’s father Shane said.

“He just tapped the brakes before he went into a turn and the back end swung around. The vehicle is a bit light up the back.

“The ute was a write-off and Ryan spent the night in hospital because they had to get glass out of his arm. That’s all stitched up now  and he’s eager to get back to the races.”

Sanderson was enroute to Bendigo to meet up with another driver to make the long road trip to Mildura where he was booked for a number of drives.

He has his next engagements at the Maryborough on Monday.

“I’m not sure if he’ll be right to go, but that’s what he’s hoping. We’ll see how he’s going – he’ll probably have to get a medical clearance,” Shane said.

Sanderson, who last season represented Australia at the French Trotteur Francais Recontres Internationales feature, has driven more than 100 winners at his past two seasons, and is so far on track for another great year, with 24 winners.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink