Sleepy Driver Nearly Loses Life in Car Fire
A car accident on the River Heritage Parkway could have ended fatally if not for the quick thinking of some nearby construction workers. A single car crash involving a 24-year-old man from Jerseyville took place near Dam Way and Lock, reports thetelegraph.com. The man’s vehicle crashed into a galvanized metal light standard when the man apparently fell asleep at the wheel. According to the report, the man had recently completed a 14-hour shift at his job, and remembered being sleepy one minute, and being pulled out of his flame-engulfed vehicle the next. There was no mentioning of whether or not drugs or alcohol were involved. The man was taken to Alton Memorial Hospital for treatment, and then transferred to Barnes-Jewish.
Luckily for the 24-year-old man, five nearby workers became aware of the crash, rushed to the scene, and extracted the near unconscious man from his vehicle only moments before the car became completely engulfed in flames. Though both vehicle doors were unable to be opened, one of the workers grabbed his crowbar from his own vehicle, and the five men were able to pry the passenger-side door open. It certainly didn’t hurt that two of the five men had firefighter experience and had received emergency training for just such a type of accident. Even though the men were able to pull the accident victim to safety, the Jerseyville man still suffered a concussion, a fractured pelvis, and possibly eternal bleeding and an ankle fracture. Reportedly, the man was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Traffic accidents can occur even when traffic laws are not blatantly disregarded. While there is no law that says a Missouri motorist may not operate a motor vehicle after a 14-hour work day, the fact of the matter is that fatigue can play a significant role in a motorist’s ability to react and safely operate their vehicle. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your accident, it may be a good idea to retain the services of an experienced Missouri personal injury lawyer that will help sort through the details of your case to help determine the most appropriate course of action.
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, don’t hesitate to contact the traffic accident attorneys at Page Cagle. Our skilled attorneys will help hold any negligent parties responsible for your accident accountable for their actions. If you have recently been injured, please call the personal injury lawyers at Page Cagle today at 866-620-5757 for a free evaluation of your case.
Source Article: http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/workers-31565-pull-crash.html
