shepherd

Chattanooga Works Pin Job, Driver Critical

CHATTANOOGA, TENN – Thursday, March 15, 2007 – At around 10:20 PM tonight, Chattanooga Fire
Department Quint 8 responded to a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries on Shepherd Road at
Fisk Avenue. There were also reports that the accident involved entrapment. Shepherd Road is a
connector Road between Highway 153 and the Chattanooga Airport.

Quint 8 arrived on scene and Captain Ken Moses notified dispatch that there was a pickup truck that
had run into the back of a tractor trailer rig and he did confirm entrapment. Squads 1 and 3 had been
dispatched as well because of the entrapment and they arrived shortly afterward. A third Squad was
requested non emergency for manpower by the Battalion Chief after he assumed command.

The tractor trailer was parked on the shoulder of the road facing eastbound. The driver of the big rig,
who lives in a trailer park near the scene was seated in the tractor doing paperwork. It was not sticking
out into the roadway at all. The Ford F-150 pickup truck had been traveling eastbound on the roadway
and slammed into the rear of the trailer and wedged up underneath it.

Firefighters worked feverishly for about 45 minutes to free the pinned driver. They had to flap the roof
and peel the dash. When the driver was removed from the wreckage he was transported to Erlanger
Hospital by Hamilton County EMS in critical condition.

At the time of the accident there was a driving rainstorm. Traffic was very light on the roadway and it is
fairly well lit in the area although visibility was reduced by the weather. Traffic Investigators with the
Chattanooga Police Department were on scene as well as at least one DUI vehicle which suggests that
officers believed that alcohol might have played a part in the accident. That fact has not been
confirmed at this point. A trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol was also called to the scene.

The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured. He stated that he was parked and completing some
paperwork in anticipation of going home. He said he did not have any lights on at the time since the rig
was parked. The accident occurred immediately after a long sweeping turn as you leave the airport
area. The roadway is two lanes in each direction and there are no traffic signals in the immediate area.
The roadway was completely closed for several hours while the extrication and investigation took place.
Charges, if any, are unknown at this time.