Log truck overturns in three-vehicle wreck at intersection on N.C. 111
By John Joyce
Published in News on November 24, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
First responders work to rescue Mackenzie Bryant, the driver of the overturned log truck pictured, Monday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. 111 South and Dollard Town Road.
A log truck overturned, spilling its contents and sending the driver to the hospital after a wreck at the intersection of N.C. 111 South and Dollard Town Road Monday evening, authorities said.
The call came in at 4:25 p.m. of three-vehicle wreck involving a log truck. The collision caused a spill of the logs and a downed power line, the El-Roy Volunteer Fire Department said. The highway remained closed until after 7 p.m.
Mackenzie Bryant, 22, 2703 Billy Frances Drive, driver of the log truck, is facing charges this morning as the N.C. State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the wreck.
"He ran the red light, impacted vehicle two -- the red car -- which sent him out of control," N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper Leroy Bunn said.
"Charges are pending," he said.
According to witnesses at Johnny's Convenience Store, located on the corner of N.C. 111 South and Spring Bank Road, the log truck became airborne at one point, spilling logs across the highway and knocking over a utility pole that came to rest atop the hood of a an older model Dodge Ram truck.
Inside the Dodge truck was James Earl Hamm Jr., and his son. Hamm, 55, said he saw the big rig coming at him and he threw the truck in gear and tried to move.
"I heard the noise -- I had just pull up and hadn't got out of the truck yet -- by the time I looked up (the log truck) was turning over," he said.
The cab of the log truck came to rest on it's side against the rear driver's side portion of Hamm's pickup. The light pole -- still connected to the live wire that powers it -- fell over the front of Hamm's truck and shattered part of the windshield.
It took Hamm a minute to be able to express what went through his mind as the wreck unfolded.
"It was -- nothing. It was just so quick. All I can think now is, God almighty," he said.
Johnny's operator A.J. Al-Gobli said the overturned trailer landed just inches from a fourth vehicle, which had just finished pumping gas and was headed out of the convenience store parking lot at the time of the wreck. The driver of that car had since left the scene, but Al-Gobli said the store's security cameras captured the entire incident.
"I have it. The light was red," he said. "The log truck came through the light like it was green," he added.
He said the fact that no one was seriously injured was an act of divine intervention.
"God is great, no one was even scratched," he said.
Mackenzie was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital. El-Roy firefighters had to use power tool sand spreaders to extricate him from the crumpled cab of his overturned truck, but he was talking to them as they pulled him out, they said.
As southbound traffic was diverted down Spring Bank Road, two more wrecks took place, keeping busy the many rescue workers and several highway patrol troopers who were on scene to investigate the accident.
Meanwhile, 20- to 30-foot logs sat, strewn about the road and intertwined with one another.
"It's going to be several hours before we get this cleared up," one young firefighter said. His post was next to the downed power line, which despite being live, onlookers kept stepping over with little regard. As dusk fell, the light on the downed pole came on, illuminating the undamaged side of the Ram truck.
Hamm said he stopped at the gas station daily as part of his routine.
"Picking up my bad habits, tobacco and caffeine," he said.
When asked if his near-death experience would change any of his "bad habits," Hamm did not respond. He just looked across the spilled logs at what was left of his truck.