Lakeside Mayor Orville Nelson is in the race for mayor this November — and he’s making a comeback.

Nelson was injured on Sept. 6 when he was climbing back into his pickup when a truck careened past and struck him in front of T’ree Acres Shell Gas Mini-Mart and Deli.

He was flown to Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in Portland in critical condition.

“When I went up there, they didn’t think I was going to make it,” he said.

But Nelson is a survivor.

He left the hospital on Sept. 30 and is undergoing physical therapy at Baycrest Village in North Bend.

Nelson, 72, feels ready to get back in action soon. In fact, if everything goes he has as planned, he will have missed only one City Council meeting.

“I’m progressing really good,” Nelson said in an phone interview Tuesday.

Nelson doesn’t remember the accident and didn’t know he was in the hospital until two weeks after he arrived.

Now he’s ready to dive back into city leadership, and is planning to meet Lakeside community members face-to-face once again at the Lakeside City Council meeting tonight.

Nelson said Tuesday the council that has been in place the last two years has served the city well. He attributed the council’s performance to the time and dedication the members give to studying issues facing the city.

Nelson will be in physical therapy for two to four weeks, but said he could be sent home as soon as he is able to demonstrate he can take care of himself.

“I’m working on that as fast as I can,” he said.

Nelson said he is grateful for all the support and prayers people have given him and his family since the accident a month ago.

“It’s so encouraging to have so many people rooting for me,” he said.

As to the suspect who struck him. Nicholas J. Mason, 27, of Portland is scheduled for a plea hearing on charges related to the accident on Tuesday, Oct. 21 in Coos County Circuit Court. He’s charged with second-degree assault, possession of heroin, two counts of second-degree criminal mischief, driving under the influence of narcotics, reckless driving and reckless endangering.