Emergency workers rescue trapped truck driver

By Denice Thibodeau

Published: September 18, 2008

The driver of a tractor-trailer was trapped in the truck’s cab Thursday afternoon when the truck rolled over as it exited Hayes Iron & Metal on Walters Mill Road in Providence, N.C.

The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m., according to Joel White, assistant vice president of Hayes.

“We came right down to see if we could help,” White said. “We immediately called Providence Rescue. They responded pretty quick — they were here in five minutes.”

The truck tipped over on a dirt exit driveway that runs next to an inclined slope.

An excavator with a sheer attachment was used to stabilize the truck so it wouldn’t slide down the slope, and it took rescue workers with metal-cutting tools about an hour to get to the driver and extract him through the windshield, officials said.

Capt. Rick Blackstock, of the Providence Volunteer Fire Department, said the driver was airlifted to Duke University Medical Center.

The victim’s name and the extent of his injuries were not released.

“The end result is the young man is out of the truck and what his health will be afterwards is unknown,” firefighter Dave Sartin said. “He’s still in the good Lord’s hands.”

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.