Elderly Man Critical After MVC with Heavy Entrapment

FORT OGLETHORPE, GA – At about 9:45 AM, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, Fort Oglethorpe Fire and
Rescue responded to a report of a one vehicle accident on Mack Smith Road near Tootie Lane.  
Engine 1 responded and found a white 4 door Honda Accord against a telephone pole with major
front end damage and intrusion on the driver’s side door.  Engine 1 also confirmed entrapment of an
elderly male who was the lone occupant of the car.

Firefighters with Engine 1 began the arduous task of extrication. They had to remove both the front
left and right doors, the B posts from both sides, peel the roof and partially roll the dashboard in order
to free the occupant.  Meanwhile medics from Angel EMS were providing medical attention for the
driver who was critically injured.  Due to the severity of the man’s injuries, it was decided to request
Life Force launch a helicopter to transport the patient.

Life Force was able to set down in a field adjacent to the accident site.  After over an hour of
extrication, the patient was finally freed and turned over to medical personnel with Life Force.  He was
transported by helicopter to Erlanger Hospital in critical condition.

The cause of the accident is unknown at this time and it is being investigated by the Fort Oglethorpe
Police Department.  Mack Smith Road, a two lane roadway through a mostly residential neighborhood
was shut down for two hours while the extrication took place and the investigation was completed.