May 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nWilliams was released from the hospital on Friday night after suffering a laceration to his right buttock that was so deep it was squirting blood, which caused him to feel lightheaded, along with severe road rash to his right hand.<\/p>\n
All X-rays came back negative, and he can walk. Doctors told Williams they expect him to make a full recovery.<\/p>\n
When Williams spoke to The Athletic on Saturday, he paused when asked what it was like to be called a \u201chero.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it was just a matter of circumstance, I just reacted in the situation, went with it and was hoping for the best,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone was saying it kind of ran over me and clipped me as I moved Amanda out the way and fell on her kind of simultaneously. I\u2019m just feeling very, very blessed because that was a situation that could have been a lot worse if it had hit me a couple inches in any other direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bystanders immediately jumped to check on Busick and Williams. She was evaluated and released from the care center onsite at Dover. She sustained a hyperextended knee, sore shoulder, and some cuts and bruises.<\/p>\n
Although Fox Sports wanted her to use the remainder of the day to recover, she insisted on covering the truck race later that day. She thought doing her job would serve as a good distraction.<\/p>\n
Like Busick, Williams recognized just how close things were to turning out far worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened (Friday) was really traumatic,\u201d Williams said. \u201cDefinitely one of the scariest moments of my life, just because I didn\u2019t know exactly what the outcome was. When I was there after all the chaos kind of settled, I definitely felt some of the worst pain I\u2019d ever felt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, he said he considers himself fortunate that neither he nor Busick was seriously hurt. It helped that Williams is 6-foot-3 and weighs 240 pounds \u2014 the body of a former high-level college football player. He spent four seasons with the UConn Huskies between 2016 and \u201919, suiting up at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve dealt with football injuries, but this was real trauma,\u201d Williams said. \u201cDefinitely a very scary moment, probably one of the scariest moments I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just before Williams was discharged Friday night, Busick arrived to express her gratitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe gave each other a big hug,\u201d Busick said. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want to be overly dramatic on things, but I truly don\u2019t know what would have happened to me if Donovan wasn\u2019t in front of that cart. I hate(that) him and I share this moment, but I\u2019m glad that we both get to walk away from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hendrick organization flew Williams and his mother \u2014 who lives just a few hours away in Northern Virginia, and came to the hospital Friday \u2014 back to Williams\u2019 home in North Carolina. In addition to Busick, he has had several notable well-wishers who\u2019ve reached out to commend him for his actions, including team owner Rick Hendrick and vice chairman Jeff Gordon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling extremely blessed,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI just want to thank God and thank everyone that was there in support and willing to assist me and my family. I\u2019m super grateful and appreciative for all the support across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
Busick is not yet home, but in Joliet, Ill., to cover the NHRA race there as a member of the Fox Sports broadcast team. During her flight to Chicago on Saturday morning, she reflected for the first time about all that transpired the previous day and said she became emotional.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe live in very fast-paced, dream-worthy environments, and I\u2019m so grateful and feel so lucky to be part of it all,\u201d Busick said. \u201cSo just to have a moment of, \u2018Wow, like your life truly can flash in front of your eyes,\u2019 it is a vivid, vivid memory, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife comes at you fast.\u201d<\/p>\n