Police said Charles Matlak was talking and visiting with a family member at hospital.
This article was updated on Monday, Sept 26, 2011.
A Healdsburg man seriously injured in a single-car crash Thursday on University Street is starting to recover and was taken out of a medically induced coma at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, police said Monday.
"His sister flew in to be with him, and she said he was talking with her today at the hospital," said Healdsburg Police Officer Steve Moore. "He's doing a lot better."
Moore identified the man as Charles Matlak, 59, of Healdsburg, a self-employed sales and marketing specialist.
Matlak suffered what Moore said appeared to be a heart attack while driving his Mercedes SUV on University Street at about 3 p.m. Thursday. The attack caused him to crash the car into a power pole.
Moore on Monday confirmed reports over the weekend from Healdsburg Police Cpl. Tanya Potter that emergency measures by police and bystanders likely saved Matlak's life.
Police used an AED, or automatic external defibrillator, to restore Matlak's heartbeat, and bystanders applied CPR.
"It looks like all the life-saving devices that were used at the scene saved his life," Potter said Sunday.
Thursday's crash led to a seven-hour power outage until utility crews could repair the damage.
When you see a cardiac arrest, your brain fights you - "No, this isn't really happening" - and the circumstances fight you - "Dang! in CPR class the manikin didn't weigh very much and wasn't sitting in a deep chair. This blog deals with practical details and presents reports of "saves." Let me have your questions and comments - they will steer the course of this blog. This blog is brought to you by the volunteers at www.slicc.org
