Runner Felicia Pasadyn Recovers After Truck Collision
The NYU medical student sustains eight fractures after being struck by a truck while running in New York City.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Running
NYU medical student and elite runner Felicia Pasadyn is recovering from severe injuries after being struck by a truck on September 9, 2026. The collision resulted in eight fractures and multiple internal injuries for the athlete, who had previously qualified for the US Olympic Marathon Trials.
Why it matters
Pasadyn’s recovery underscores the profound physical trauma sustained by pedestrians in high-speed vehicle collisions. This incident highlights the significant rehabilitation process required for complex fractures and internal lacerations following a crash involving a truck traveling at 45 miles per hour.
Pasadyn sustained eight fractures, kidney lacerations, abdominal bleeding, and two puncture wounds in her right knee. These injuries followed a collision with a vehicle traveling at a minimum of 45 miles per hour.
The players
Felicia Pasadyn
An elite runner and student at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine who previously competed in collegiate swimming.
Harvard University
A higher education institution where Pasadyn held three program records and swam for four years.
Ohio State University
The academic institution where Pasadyn competed as a swimmer before pursuing medical studies.
New York University
The current institution where Pasadyn is a student at the Grossman School of Medicine.
The details
Upon impact with the truck, Pasadyn fell face down on the pavement, causing a high-velocity transfer of kinetic energy to her body. The resulting injuries, including kidney lacerations and abdominal bleeding, necessitated extensive medical intervention to stabilize internal hemorrhaging. Her complex orthopedic and internal trauma required a focused recovery period to manage the eight separate fractures she sustained in the crash.
Timeline
2019: Pasadyn served as the Ivy League Championships co-high point swimmer.
2022: Pasadyn earned the NCAA Elite 90 award.
2023: Pasadyn won the Big Ten title in the 400 IM.
November 2025: Pasadyn qualified for the US Olympic Marathon Trials.
September 9, 2026: Pasadyn was struck by a truck while running.
Health Landscape
Pasadyn’s transition from an elite endurance athlete who qualified for the US Olympic Marathon Trials to a trauma patient highlights the sudden interruption of high-level athletic careers. This case reflects the broader medical challenges of recovering from high-velocity orthopedic and internal trauma.
For runners, the physical toll of high-velocity accidents emphasizes the critical need for safety awareness when navigating areas with vehicle traffic. Complex trauma recovery, including managing internal organ damage and multiple fractures, requires close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary medical team.
The takeaway
Severe trauma recovery is a slow process that demands professional guidance and patience after significant skeletal and internal injuries. Readers managing post-injury rehabilitation should maintain a conversation with their physician regarding safe timelines for returning to physical activity.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of long-distance training and physical health, see our Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
