Netflix Actor Recounts Traumatic Brain Injury After 100 MPH Crash

Rising actor Clayton Conroy, 32, is recovering from critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and fractured hip, after being struck by a vehicle allegedly traveling at 100 miles per hour in Los Angeles on April 19.

Conroy, who gained recognition for his role in the Netflix series "The Gringo Hunters," recounted the incident in an update shared on social media. He stated that he had been meeting friends at a local bar and was on his way to work the next day when the collision occurred. "The road was looking as normal as it could, just lights on the road behind me," Conroy said. "I did, perhaps, notice certain lights approaching quickly. From there, I woke up in the hospital."

He was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors informed him of the extent of his injuries. In addition to the traumatic brain injury, he suffered a fractured hip and shoulder and was initially unable to walk. Conroy shared on social media in late July that he had brain surgery and "was supposed to die." He also noted severing nerves in his arm, fracturing bones in his leg, and losing 20 pounds during his recovery.

"Summer turned out a lot different than I ever thought it would," he wrote at the time. "Spent my birthday in the hospital. Still can't walk. But I've had time to think about a lot. Idk just don't take anything for granted. Oh and friends + family will get you through anything. And justice isn't given. You have to fight for it."

On August 26, 19-year-old Noor El Deen Amr Soror of Anaheim, California, was arrested and charged with felony reckless driving causing major injuries in connection with the crash. Captain Martin Geller of the CHP Central Los Angeles division commented, "This incident is another reminder that reckless driving is not only dangerous, it can have devastating and life-changing consequences. Speeding, unsafe maneuvers, and other reckless behavior behind the wheel put everyone on the roadway at risk."

After a month in the hospital, Conroy has been undergoing cognitive, physical, and occupational therapy. He told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that he feels "lucky or happy that it could be much worse" and is trying not to take things for granted. Initially reliant on a rollator, he has progressed to using a cane and can now walk short distances.

Despite his physical improvements, the traumatic brain injury continues to affect him, causing headaches, brain fog, and cognitive fatigue. "That process, you really don’t have control over it. You just have to rest and hope that it gets better and better," he said.

In an Instagram update on Sunday, marking five months since the accident, Conroy expressed that he was feeling well enough to share his progress. "Every day, and I just wanted to hop on and say that you might have dark times. There might be dark days, dark months, even. But it does get better. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it."

Conroy's previous acting work includes portraying Padre Terry, a Catholic priest arrested by a police unit, in "The Gringo Hunters." He also appeared in the comedy "That One Summer."