Collinsville High School sophomore quarterback and strong safety Nathan Coker was involved in a one-car accident Friday evening. The accident caused a fractured vertebrae, multiple cuts and bruises.

The accident took place on Interstate 59. The Panthers were scheduled to play a jamboree game at Sand Rock, but it was rained out.

After the game was canceled, several Collinsville High School students went to Fort Payne to eat. Upon returning, the car hydroplaned in the middle of a thunderstorm.

Two truckers helped pull Coker from the wreckage. He was riding with his cousin Clay Coker, who is also a player on the Panther football team. Clay Coker did not suffer any serious injury.

Nathan Coker is out for the season and was scheduled to have surgery on Monday.

“The number one thing is that Nathan is OK,” Collinsville football coach Alan Beckett said. “I’m very sad for Nathan because he’d worked so unbelievably hard for this season. He’s taking not playing hard. He’s alive, and that’s number one.”

Nathan is a two-year starter heading into his sophomore year.

Last season, Nathan Coker was 4-of-11 passing for 37 yards. He had eight catches for 209 yards as a receiver and 28 carries for 125 yards as a rusher. He had a total of five offensive touchdowns and started in all 11 games.

Defensively, Nathan Coker led the team with four interceptions and had 30 tackles.

In the spring game, he had two carries for 28 yards and a touchdown. He was 9-of-11 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he led the team with four tackles and an interception.

“Situations like this are 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you deal with them,” Beckett added. “Nathan is a mentally strong person that will bounce back with God’s help.”