CHESAPEAKE – An Ohio Department of Transportation worker is recovering at St.

Tuesday, September 21, 1999

CHESAPEAKE – An Ohio Department of Transportation worker is recovering at St. Mary’s Hospital after an accident at the Charlie Creek intersection of U.S. 52 Monday morning.

The accident, which involved Bill F. Patrick of South Point, an ODOT transportation manager with the Lawrence County Highway Maintenance Facility in Ironton, and Jerry D. Browning, 57, of Quality Carriers Inc., occurred at the Charlie Creek, or County Road 144, intersection on U.S. 52 at about 9:55 a.m. Monday, said Trooper R.S. Boggs of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

"It appears the semi was eastbound on U.S. 52, changed lanes and drove into the median where it struck the white ODOT pickup truck," Boggs said. "The white pickup was stopped at the red light in the left turn only lane. That’s what it looked like happened."

When the two trucks collided, the pickup truck became connected to the ladder on the semi, Boggs added.

"The ladder of the tank got a hold of the cab of the truck and spun it around," he said. "When they came apart, the truck separated from the trailer, the truck was pointed toward westbound 52, hit the signs in the median and then hit the guardrail before coming to a stop."

The accident totaled the pickup truck and caused mild damage to the tractor-trailer, Boggs said.

Patrick was trapped inside the vehicle, but Fayette Township Volunteer Fire Department District No. 1 firefighters opened up the vehicle with the Jaws of Life soon after arriving on the scene.

"We just made two cuts on the door post, which brought the roof off and popped the door open," said Ryan Vaughn, firefighter. "We just assisted with (Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Service) to try to get the patient out."

This is not the first U.S. 52 accident scene at which the department has assisted at this intersection.

"It seems that this area is accident-prone," Vaughn said. "But Sandusky is our worst intersection."

Patrick was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital by SEOEMS, where he underwent surgery, and is now recovering from several lacerations around the neck and back areas, a family member said.

No other injuries were reported, Boggs added.

"I would say no one else was injured, because it happened at a red light," he said. The east- and west-bound traffic had a red light. If it had hit them at the right time, it would have been a real nasty accident involving a lot of cars."