AR Medical Board chairman in ICU from car bomb injuries

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/...tigators-swarm/

Investigators swarm in to probe West Memphis bombing

By Hank Dudding (Contact) and Cindy Wolff (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal

2009/02/05 07:48, updated 13:03

Investigators plan to interview doctors who’ve had cases before the Arkansas State Medical Board today as they try to figure out why somebody bombed the car of a West Memphis physician.

Dr. Trent Pierce, 54, remains in the intensive care unit at The Med.

Pierce is suffering from severe damage to his left eye, a broken left leg, a broken left wrist, and multiple cuts, said West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert, but burns to his face aren’t as severe as was originally thought.

“His face was just totally black,” said Paudert, who saw the doctor shortly after the bombing. “It looked like it was charred.”

But doctors found most of the blackened area was only soot from the blast, and it may not be necessary to send Pierce to a burn unit in Ohio, Paudert said.

Pierce was injured Wednesday morning when a bomb placed on or near his Lexux hybrid SUV exploded.

Pierce serves as chairman of the state medical board, which regulates doctors and other health professionals.

ATF and FBI agents will be interviewing doctors who’ve had cases before the board, as well as others who have pending cases, Paudert said.

Investigators still haven’t determined whether Pierce was targeted or whether the bombing was the random work of a “psycho,” Paudert said.

He warned West Memphians to be aware of their surroundings and alert to signs of anything unusual.

“This is a very unusual case. We do not have car bombings here.”

Investigators have also received several tips and will be pursuing those leads today, Paudert said.

[Peikko 1,575]

I read this yesterday. Do they have any real idea why this happened as yet?