Injured Musician Showing Progress

The Mount Pleasant musician severely injured in an Aug. 3 crash on Daniel Island is showing progress — opening his eyes and spending time off a respirator — despite losing his left leg to severe injuries, his family reports.

Nick Collins Jr., the guitarist and vocalist in the popular Fowler's Mustache group continues to be under round-the-clock care at MUSC following the accident.

"Another day of rest for my son," wrote his father, Nick Collins Sr., on Facebook on Sunday. "He actually opened is eyes a few times and had a little grin. Kinda like saying 'Hey I got this.'"

Surgeons on Thursday amputated the musician's left leg and his other limb will need several surgeries and constant monitoring. He has spent short periods of time of a respirator in recent days.

"Nick had a rough long day today," the elder Collins wrote. "Eight hours of surgery good news for his right leg Not so lucky for his left. Just too much damage to save."

Collins was severely injured in a two-part accident in the early morning hours Aug. 3, according to reports. A single-vehicle accident resulted in Collins being thrown from the SUV in which he was a passenger. Then, laying on the pavement waiting for emergency help, a large vehicle, perhaps an 18-wheeler or a box truck, ran over his legs.

Police are searching for information on the large vehicle, and the Collins family has reportedly hired a private investigator to assist in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Collins' relatives are updating the public about his medical progress on CaringBridge, and they have organized an on-line fundraising drive. That effort had raised close to $20,000 by Monday morning.

A blood drive in Collins' honor is set for 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant. His family says his medical care has required a massive amount of blood.

"Nicholas' total blood supply was transfused five times in the first few days and he still continues to receive a little bit of blood," his sister, Courtney Collins Oberly, wrote on CaringBridge.

A fundraising pig roast is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday at on King Street in Charleston. And the Windjammer on Isle of Palms plans a similar event for Sunday. The family has a website established to track the fundraising.