Injured Clanton musician Austin Childress has showed signs of improvement this week, as he was removed from a breathing machine Thursday.

Childress is being given a tracheotomy in efforts to help him breathe on his own. Those close to Childress saying progress is being made, albeit slowly.

“With some help and a lot of pain, he moved his left arm,” said Pastor Scott Springer, a family friend. “He’s still responding to our voices, so it’s a positive report. We’re elated, but he still need a lot of prayer.”

Childress was critically injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday night after a driver fell asleep and hit him head on. He is being held in the trauma unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Springer said a website has now been set up so those in Chilton County can keep up with Childress’s progress.

“We now have a website at www.caringbridge.org,” he said. “[They can] type in Austin Childress, and there will be updates and a place where people can post on there.”