Driver Extricated From Semi-Truck, Starflighted To Hamot Hospital


ELLERY – A man stuck inside of a rolled over semi-truck for over four hours was extricated and flown to Hamot Hospital in Erie, PA for treatment around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
New York State Police said the man, later identified as Gary Brown, 72, of Lodi, OH, misjudged the curve or wasn’t paying attention. He then crashed into the ditch near the I-86 on ramp from the Ellery Outlook just before 11 a.m.
The trailer slid down the embankment and rolled the truck onto its side pinning the driver’s arm between the truck and ground. The driver’s leg was also pinned between the seat and steering wheel, according to police.
Chautauqua County Emergency Services Coordinator Greg Scott told WNYNewsNow the semi-truck hauling chicken feed.
“Right now it’s just a matter of time, doing the right thing to get the patient extricated out of the vehicle safely for everybody,” Scott said just moments before the extrication. “With any extrication of, nowadays, the vehicle itself will actually crumple around the person.”

Image by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.

Scott said, because the semi is larger, they were trying to cut the vehicle away from the driver as each movement is complex.
Stabilization services were utilized to prevent the semi-truck from rolling over onto the emergency personnel.
The Bemus Point Fire Department was assisted by Fluvanna, Ellery Center, Chautauqua County ALS Intercept, Chautauqua Technical Rescue Team, Chautauqua County HAZMAT and the Chautauqua County Fire Coordinator’s Office.