ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, August 30, 1996                TAG: 9608300060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS

OFFICERS PULL CRASH VICTIM FROM RIVER

Two marine patrol officers rescued a man who was hurled into the James River from a bridge Thursday morning when a truck slammed into the rear of his vehicle, officials said.

Donald Smith's pickup broke down about 2:40 a.m. on the bridge, said Wilford Kale, of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Smith, 40, was sitting in his truck when it was rear-ended.

VMRC officers Benjamin Major III and Ronald Garrett arrived within 15 minutes and shouted for Smith, who responded about 10 minutes later, Kale said. ``They found him holding onto a spare tire that apparently came from his vehicle.

The man doesn't remember anything about the accident and doesn't know how he wound up on the tire,'' Kale said.

- Associated Press

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