Indians pitcher undergoes surgeries following car accident

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND, Dec. 24, 2007 (AP): Indians pitcher Juan Lara, who was nearly killed in a car accident last month while coming home from a game in the Dominican Republic, underwent two surgeries Sunday.

The Indians said the 26-year-old’s spine was stabilized and he also had an arm fracture repaired. The operations were performed by Dr. Jeff Lawton and Dr. Doug Orr at the Cleveland Clinic.

Lara sustained life-threatening injuries when the SUV he was driving was slammed into at an intersection by a motorcycle on Nov. 24. Both the motorcycle’s driver and passenger were killed instantly.

He was flown from Santo Domingo, where he had been hospitalized since the accident, to the U.S. on Friday. The club said after he’s released from the Clinic he will return to the Dominican Republic for treatment.

Lara pitched in one game for the Indians last season. He went 4-3 with two saves and a 3.88 ERA in 52 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo.