Musicians Union official recovering after near-fatal traffic accident

By Jerry Fink · May 8, 2008 · 6:48 PM

Longtime musician's union secretary-treasure Thom Pastor is recovering from a near-fatal car crash Tuesday night in Henderson.

Pastor was traveling to his home in Boulder City when he was rear-ended, by a drunken driver traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour, according to Frank Leon, president of Musicians Union of Las Vegas No. 369.

The collision took place on Interstate 215 at the Stephanie Street exit.

Leon said the 61-year-old Pastor's neck was broken and he suffered other injuries, including a broken left arm and shoulder and ribs.

He was taken to Sunrise Hospital.

"The main concern was the neck," Leone said.

He said Pastor was able to move his fingers and toes and therefore there was no damage to the spinal cord. Rather that risk a surgery, Pastor will wear a halo brace until he heals.

He said that a nurse witnessed the accident and aided Pastor almost immediately.

His Toyota pickup was demolished.

Leone said he was told Pastor was in the far right lane when he was struck in the rear and the side by the driver.

"The truck went sailing through the air and crashed down on the exit ramp," Leone said.

He says family members are with Pastor around the clock, but he is not allowed to have other visitors.

"It will be a long recovery process," Leone said. "But he is out of danger."

He said Pastor has been the secretary-treasurer of the local musician's union for 18 years.

Pastor is also a Zen master and teaches Zen classes.