By Brian Bielanski, Editor

(RacingWire) – A United State's motorsports pioneer and legend is fighting to recover from injuries sustained in a freak roadside accident near Amarillo, Texas.

Anatoly “Toly” Arutunoff was critically injured when he stopped on I-40 during a blizzard to help a motorist who had spun off the road.

Arutunoff's wife tells RacingWire he was standing on the side of the interstate giving aid when he was struck by another vehicle. His left leg was amputated in the accident and doctors are fighting to save his right leg. The freezing cold temperatures present at the time of the accident helped slow the blood loss and likely saved Arutunoff's life.

Toly, as his friends know him, was on his way to the SCCA National Convention when the accident happen.

His love of cars began with a 1951 Chevy Bel Air hardtop his parents bought him while living in Los Angeles. Eventually, the family moved to the Tulsa Oklahoma area where a more practical Lincoln was purchased. Toly wasn't satisfied with the stock Lincoln so in, true gear head style, he added headers, a dual exhaust, supercharger and alcohol injection. His involvement in racing dates back to 1957 when he first raced is Porsche roadster.

He raced against the greats of his time; Bob Bondurant, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, and Richie Ginter to name a few. Toly won an SCCA National Championship in 1981 and earned the President's Cup.

Toly drove in two Cannonball Baker cross-country races in the 1970's. He also built Hallett Motor Racing Circuit.