Boat crash victim Dustin Frost shows signs of improvement

Dustin Frost, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg's state director who suffered a severe closed head injury in a boating accident on Flathead Lake Aug. 27, was moved to a less-critical level of hospital care Monday morning.

"Dustin was moved today from the critical care unit to the intermediate care unit… basically onto the medical floor," Kalispell Regional Medical Center spokesman Jim Oliverson said Monday afternoon. "We always see that as a giant step."

The good news came on Labor Day, just three days after Frost's family released a statement that although "he continues to make progress each and every day, we know that these are just the first small steps down a long road to a full recovery."

State Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, was driving the boat when it crashed into rocks at Wayfarers State Park and injured all five passengers, including Rehberg. His son Ken Barkus released a statement to the media on Friday saying Barkus was flown to a Seattle hospital for surgery on a broken pelvis.

Barkus' wife Kathy, Rehberg's Deputy Chief of Staff Kristen Smith and Rehberg all were released from the Kalispell hospital last week.

Dr. Robert Hollis, the neurosurgeon who has been treating Frost, said in Friday's press that his 27-year-old patient is requiring aggressive monitoring and treatment. Frost continues to receive intensive nursing care, Hollis added, but is expected to make further recovery.

"I was encouraged this morning when I checked in and they told me they were moving him," Oliverson said. "They're giving him very aggressive physical therapy."

He could not confirm reports that Frost was speaking and sitting up. He said standard operating procedure for such situations is to keep the patient sedated and watch closely for any brain swellling.

Oliverson said Frost's family continues to stay by his side in the hospital.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com