Other Vehicle's

Driver, 17,

Lacked License

BY BILL JONES

STAFF WRITER

A Limestone man was flown to the Johnson City Medical Center on Monday night from the scene of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of U.S. 11E and Chuckey Highway.

Trooper James Fillers, who investigated the 7:40 p.m. collision, said Scott Martin, 49, of Limestone, was injured when the 1985 Dodge Omni he was driving east on U.S. 11E collided with a 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo attempting to cross the eastbound traffic lanes from a median cross-over point to reach Chuckey Highway.

The unlicensed 17-year-old youth who was operating the Monte Carlo escaped injury in the collision, the trooper said. The youth's name was not released because of his age and the fact that charges are pending against him, Trooper Fillers said.

The youth was cited for failure to yield the right of way, violating the financial responsibility law and driving without a license, Fillers said.

Martin was trapped in the wreckage of his car for more than half-an-hour before he was freed by volunteers from the Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad and firefighters from the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department.

Rescue Squad volunteers had to cut away the Dodge Omni's roof and use hydraulic rescue tools to free Martin, Fillers said.

After treatment at the scene by Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services personnel, Martin was flown from the scene by a Wings Air Rescue helicopter to the Johnson City Medical Center.
He was listed in fair condition this morning, according to a nursing supervisor.

A landing zone for the Wings helicopter had been established in the eastbound traffic lanes of U.S. 11E by firefighters from the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, according to Trooper Fillers.

THP Sgt. Mark Higgs assisted with the accident investigation, while at least one Greene County sheriff's deputy handled traffic control at the scene.

The crew of the Wings Air Rescue helicopter was composed of Pilot Andrew McNeal, Flight Nurse Trace Jarnagin and flight Paramedic Lynn Rowlett, according to Wings Air Rescue.

For more information and stories, see today's edition of The Greeneville Sun.