Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411280030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Johnnie Vaughn, 19, was pinned inside the cab of his small, white pickup truck for nearly an hour after he collided with a car about 11:20 a.m. The truck landed on its top at the intersection of Market Street and Peppers Ferry Road.
Emergency workers said Vaughn was lucky to escape with bruises and minor injuries. He was treated at Montgomery Regional Hospital and released.
The collision snarled already congested shopping traffic but hordes of onlookers had the man's welfare in mind. They braved a bone-chilling wind as they watched from the Pargo's restaurant parking area, willing Vaughn safely out of his truck.
Christiansburg police, Montgomery County deputies and Christiansburg Rescue Squad members worked furiously to stabilize the truck by jacking up the bed with short wooden boards, all the while crawling as far as possible under the upside-down truck to talk to Vaughn. He was removed after a tow-truck lifted up the truck enough to allow rescue workers to pull him out.
Christiansburg Officer Roy Holt said the collision happened when a black Oldsmobile driven by Nancy Thacker, 64, of Eggleston, pulled from the Market Place shopping center and began to attempt a left turn onto Peppers Ferry Road toward the new Lowe's superstore.
Vaughn, traveling on Peppers Ferry Road, was struck on the side of his truck, Holt said.
Evelyn Vest was stopped in her car at a stop sign when she heard the collision.
"I heard the noise and when I looked up, the pickup was in the air flipping," with debris going everywhere, she said.
Vest, a member of the Floyd County rescue squad, ran to check on Vaughn and the other driver. She said it appeared Vaughan's feet were wrapped around his steering wheel, but he was able to talk to her.
by CNB