Wednesday, May 07, 2008
(Last modified: 2008-05-07 12:13:19)
 

Source: The Greeneville Sun

Driver Lost Control

In Attempt To Avoid Hitting Deer

In Road

By BILL JONES

Staff Writer

A Greene County truck driver was injured Tuesday night when the northbound tractor-trailer he was driving left Baileyton Road near the Kidwell School Road and overturned.

A report filed by Deputy Sheriff Michelle Holt said James D. Hutchins, 46, of Stills Road, managed to crawl out of a window of the wrecked 2003 Peterbilt tractor-trailer after it went off the right side of Baileyton Road and overturned shortly before 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Hutchins was listed in fair condition at the Johnson City Medical Center this morning. He had been transferred there after initial treatment at a Greeneville hospital.

The report also said Hutchins told Deputy Holt that he lost control of the truck after he swerved to avoid a deer.

After Hutchins lost control of the tractor-trailer, which was owned by Little Rock Crate and Basket, of Little Rock, Ark., it went off the right side of the road, crashed through a barbed wire fence onto property owned by H.L. Johnson and overturned.

Hutchins, according to Sheriff's Lt. Dale Dodds, crawled from the wreckage of the overturned tractor after rolling down its driver's side window. Dodds said he and Deputy Sheriff Chuck Humphreys helped the injured driver out of the wreckage.

Fortunately, Dodds said, the driver's side of the truck's cab was not crushed as badly as was the passenger side of the vehicle.

After being treated at the scene by Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services personnel, Hutchins was transported by ambulance to Laughlin Memdorial Hospital.

He was flown by a Wings Air Rescue helicopter to the Johnson City Medical Center for additional treatment, according to a Greene County 911 dispatcher.

The heavily-damaged truck was left at the scene overnight. Its cargo is expected to be off-loaded onto another truck today, the dispatcher said.

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