By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CALERA – Calera Baptist Church Pastor Hal Warren is home and recovering from a March 4 hit-and-run accident.

“I am doing better. I’ve got doctors appointments set up tomorrow through next week,” Warren said. “The human body wasn’t meant to be hit by a pickup truck. The Lord was with me, and I’m improving.”

Warren was driving his motorcycle home after Sunday night church on March 4 when a vehicle struck him as he turn onto Alabama 25 from U.S. 31.

“The next thing I remember I was facedown on the pavement,” Warren said. “The gentleman that saw it happen, who is a member of my church, said I was out probably four minutes. The fireman said I was saying, ‘Just get me up and I’ll walk away.’ I kept repeating that, which means (I sustained) head trauma.

“The Calera fire chief, Sean Kendrick, who is a member of my church, was telling me, ‘Brother Hal, lay still and we’ll take care of you,’” he added.

The waiting room at the UAB Hospital was full of church members to support Warren and his wife after the accident.

Warren said he has a broken arm that will need a plate, a damaged knee and four broken ribs.

“I’m dealing with post-concussion syndrome, which means I had a serious concussion,” Warren said. “That, to me, is the most difficult thing, the head. If I turn it too quick, I get dizzy. I can’t have bright lights on. I cannot have the TV on, and I can’t read. The reading part is killing me. I like to read a lot.

“I’m recovering well. My goal is to be in my pulpit and preach on March 26th,” he added. “That’s the goal; we’ll see.”