CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Wednesday, August, 5,2009 - 4:30 pm - City Of
Chattanooga Firefighters and medics with Hamilton County EMS rushed to the
scene of a reported semi crash on Ochs Highway near Michigan Avenue in the
St. Elmo community of Chattanooga. Ochs Highway runs off of Lookout Mountain
and down into St. Elmo, this highway is known for it's steep grade and
serious crashes. Firefighters and rescue workers like so many times before,
rushed to the scene with fear of the inevitable.
When emergency workers arrived on the scene
they immediately knew this was going to be a bad scene. The crash involved a
semi tractor trailer and a car. Fortunately the car and semi never collided,
However the car was damage by debris. The semi truck was traveling down the
mountain road and was unable to navigate the curves. The semi struck several
power poles and trees before going over a guard rail and striking several
more trees. The tractor trailer exploded into debris as it struck the trees
and landed on it's top.
Rescuers quickly made their way to the
remains of the cab of the tractor in an effort to save the driver,
unfortunately the driver had succumb to his injuries before the truck had
even came to rest on its top. Emergency workers quickly called for a large
wrecker to assist with operations. Doug Yates Wrecker Service was called
with his two large 80 ton rescue rotators.
The semi truck weigh nearly 80 thousand
lbs between the weight of the truck and the 40 thousand pounds of synthetic
fiber bales it was caring. The bales each weigh a little over 500 pounds
each and there was almost 80 of them on the trailer. However when the truck
crashed a large number of them burst apart into the trees and wooded area.
The wreck scene looked more like a snow covered disaster area.
Rescue crews worked into the night
cleaning up debris and recovering the wreckage. Due to safe reasons crews
had to stop operations after dark. However, crews returned the next morning
and using tractors and bobcats finished cleaning and clearing up the debris.
The trucking company was based out of Kentucky and the driver was said to be
a 38 year old father from Louisville.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
