A bomb explosion in the driveway of his house critically injured Dr. Trent Pierce, a renowned family practitioner of West Memphis, Arkansas. The blast that took place at around 8 a. m. injured Pierce, the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board, while he was getting into his car, a white Lexus hybrid sport-utility vehicle.

The 54-year-old Pierce, who lost his left eye in the explosion and suffered burns on his face, hands, and legs, was air-lifted to the intensive care unit of Memphis Regional Medical Center, where his condition on Wednesday evening was stated to be critical condition.

Pierce's neighbor and close friend, Dr. Scott Ferguson, who was with the family at the hospital, said: "His heart is good, there is no brain injury, and that's very encouraging."

Apprising the reporters about Pierce's condition, the West Memphis Police Chief Robert Paudert said that during the course of repair damage to the physician's face, right eye had been operated upon; and shrapnel had also been surgically removed from his neck and abdomen.

Paudert, who said Pierce was his personal physician, added that no one else was injured in the blast. Saying that the motive behind the blast was still not known, Paudert remarked: "We don't know if it was a random act, or someone specifically targeted him."