GASTON COUNTY, N.C.,None — A popular Gaston veterinarian is in the hospital after being thrown from a tractor on Wednesday, according to a family member.
Dr. Eddie Lineberger of Lineberger Veterinary Hospital on South New Hope Road, Gastonia, was injured when a tractor he was operating apparently "jumped out of gear," knocking him off and then rolling over him, said his sister-in-law, Teena Lineberger.
"I believe he had surgery (Wednesday) night and they put a pin in his right leg," she said. "Both of his pelvic bones are broken up. He has some serious injury on both of his pelvis bones."
She said surgeons plan to perform surgery on Eddie Lineberger next week. He's being hospitalized at Carolinas' Medical Center in Charlotte, she said. At press time, his condition is unknown.
On Thursday afternoon, employees at Lineberger Veterinary Hospital wouldn't comment on Lineberger's condition and said they weren't prepared to make a statement or release any information.
However, on the veterinary hospital's Facebook page, updates on his condition were posted as status updates on Thursday.
One update said that a team of surgeons are reviewing Lineberger's results to decide where to go from here and that he may have surgery Thursday or Monday.
"Please continue to pray because he is in a lot of pain," the Facebook post read.
Another status update on the veterinary hospital's Facebook page said that Lineberger will undergo "two complex surgeries."
According to a brief autobiography on Lineberger Veterinary Hospital's website, Lineberger graduated from N.C. State University with a bachelor's degree in animal science. He then earned a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from N.C. State in 1988.
"When I am not at the hospital, I enjoy working on the farm and spending time with my wife Sharon, son Cody, and dog Winkie," the autobiography reads.
WSOC
