PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Double Olympic silver medallist, Richard Thompson, was recuperating in hospital after escaping serious injury in a vehicular accident early New Year’s morning.

The 23-year-old sprinter, recently named as T&T’s Sportsman-of-the-Year for his exploits at the Beijing Olympics, suffered a small cut to the forehead, a blow to the knee and also complained of neck pain.

Thompson underwent precautionary scans and was being kept under observation at Port of Spain General Hospital. He was expected to be released later Thursday.

The accident occurred at the corner of Marli and Picton Streets in the western part of the capital.

Thompson shot to international prominence in 2008 when he finished second to Jamaican Usain Bolt in the 100-metre final at the Beijing Olympics last August. He returned to anchor T&T’s 4×100-metre relay team to silver behind Jamaica.