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photo by Hannah Reel
Registered Nurses Sandra Powell and Susie Sikes keep truck driver Tony Dawson, of Metairie, La., stabalized as they wait for an ambulance on Highway 61 South Monday night.
Locals come to aid of injured truck driver
Published Tuesday, February 2, 2010
NATCHEZ — Of all the places in Adams County to flip an 18-wheeler, a truck driver from Metairie, La., might have found the best one Monday night.
Tony Dawson, the name witnesses on the scene thought the man said, was alert, talking and moving his legs when off-duty help walked out of their houses and into the highway.
Dawson, traveling northbound on U.S. 61 South, veered into a rain-softened median right in front of Southfork subdivision just after 8 p.m. He was reacting to a loose wheel flying toward his lane that had come off a southbound pickup truck, witnesses said.
Photo by Hannah Reel
Paramedics tend to truck driver Tony Dawson, of Metairie, La., as bystanders watch Monday night after Dawson hit a lose tire and turned his 18 wheeler into the median on Highway 61 South.
The driver of the pickup truck was fine, an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy on the scene said, but Dawson was complaining of back and neck pain.
Dawson, who managed to crawl from his truck cab on his own, was well-attended to by two registered nurses, in front of whose houses he’d just happened to wreck.
Susie Sikes, an RN who works for Deaconess HomeCare said she was at home for the evening when she heard the crash.
“I started calling neighbors, and they said, ‘They may need you,’” Sikes said. “So I grabbed my bag and came out here.”
Neighbor Sandra Powell, an emergency room nurse at Natchez Regional Medical Center, soon joined Sikes.
The nurses, along with help from their family members and other neighbors, made sure Dawson stayed still, calm and stabilized.
By the time an ambulance arrived on the scene, Dawson’s head rested on a pillow and his chest and legs were covered with blankets and jackets.
As seconds passed like minutes, 17 neighbors and passersby gathered around the man, making sure he was as comfortable as possible.
An ambulance arrived at approximately 8:25, and it wasn’t until Dawson was carefully loaded inside that Sikes and Powell took a moment to breathe.
“We do it unconsciously,” Sikes said.
Both nurses said they’ve stopped at roadside wrecks before, just to check, but Monday night was the first time they’ve been pulled into a highway wreck from their homes.
And other neighbors and passersby were thankful for the experts.
Randy and Chretia Johnson saw the whole accident through the window of their Sara Lane house.
“I saw sparks flying from the tire, and the tire ran off the road,” Randy Johnson said. “The tire came across the road, and he was trying to dodge it. We called 911 and came out here.”
Dawson was transported to Natchez Regional Medical Center; his condition was unavailable.
Traffic was backed on U.S. 61 South for more than 30 minutes as crews worked to remove the 18-wheeler from the median.
Comments
Posted by Greenfields (anonymous) on February 1, 2010 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"complaining of back and neck pain"
$$$
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 12:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
^^^ Greenfield, everybody is not low down like that.
From the looks of that picture, the truck and the driver looked pretty banged up. I just hope the man is okay.
Thanks to the all the people that came to his aid...that was awesome.
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From the look of the Truck, Mr. Dawson is Blessed to be alive.
Posted by msubulldog (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 2:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Angels of Mercy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by juju (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 3:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone could learn from these heroines. I'm sure they will receive a blessing from this.
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What took the ambulance so long to go a short distance down the road from them? You would think if the man could "crawl out" on his own more than likely he isn't going to be paralized.
Posted by charliebug5865 (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I"m glad 2 c people still help out when theres a need !!! I hope he recovers, good story ND
Posted by lowdowndog (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 7:46 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by dave07deuce07 (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I KNOW THE TRUCK DRIVER WONDER HOW HELP ARRIVED SO SOON; THE TWO NURSES WAS ON THE JOB WITHOUT HESTITATION. NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE AMERICAN WAY, RIGHT HERE IN NATCHEZ. EVERY SECOND COUNTS IN ANY EMERGENCY. THE TRUCK DRIVER WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT WHEN HE GETS HOME; THE INCIDENT,AND THE QUICK RESPONSE.
Posted by Hey_Yall (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gottabehappy, emergency responders, especially registered nurses, are aware of cases where people walk away from accidents with fractured vertebrae in their back or neck. So, they always stabilize the victim. Great Job! Glad y'all are in Natchez!
Posted by rigmedic1 (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all I am glad the man was not injured worse than he was. gottabehappy, where does it say how long it took the ambulance to arrive. The accident happened just after 8 p.m. and the ambulance arrived at approx. 8:25. Just after 8 p.m. could have been any time in between.
Posted by spntz (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to be accurate the "unconsciously" statement was made by Sikes not Powell, and a flat blanket was used to protect his head from the pavement along with protecting his cervical spine. A pillow should never be placed under the head of a trauma victim in order to protect them from further injury. Mr. Dawson was truly blessed and was discharged from the hospital with only minor injuries.
Posted by fonkeytowngirl (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
gottabehappy you are correct he isn't going to be paralyzed but at the same token whatever injuries this man did have could have been made worse by constant movement. these were trained nurses so i'm sure they knew what to do in a situation like this and i give them praise for what they did. it really says a lot about the type of persons they are. also as far as the comment about him complaining about his back and neck i'm sure more than his back and neck were hurting from the looks of the 18 wheeler in the picture how it's flipped over. i'm surprised he was able to crawl from the vehicle at all and he's blessed to not be in worse shape than what he is in. we only know what the paper reported so we don't know if this man was bleeding from somewhere or had things broken, we just don't know so don't be quick to judge people especially in a situation like this.
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Statistics are real, weather you want to believe them or not!
Posted by SIOUXLADY (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THIS STORY SHOULD JUST HAVE ALL POSITIVE COMMENTS.
BLESSINGS TO EVERY ONE INVOLVED.
'NOT A BASHING STORY'
Posted by padlock (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nurses are awesome !! Good job neighbors and all involved.
Posted by 1happycouple (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Crawling out on his own means nothing of his condition after the wreck. After a major accident the shock is so much u sometimes don't feel the pain. My husband wrecked his motorcycle and walked to a nearby truck and walked into the er. He said he had minor pain in his neck and back so they did xrays. He had three broken vertebrae in his neck. Until they told him that he had no idea it was that bad. Just sayin..the guy is lucky he had all that help there to stabilize him and help out. Good job to those who responded!
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's always good to see caring people willing to help others in need.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree "siouxlady"....The driver will be ok, the people who came to help are angels. "Gottabehappy" is just a withered up old complainer who can find no happiness in life. What a downer. God bless this man and all who helped him. :):)
Posted by wonderinmiss (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
people always have such negative things to say! thank god we have caring people in our town! glad this man was treated and released and no major issues!
Posted by belle_south (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good job NTZ citizens!!!
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy needs to buy some lotto tickets quick - what great luck to get smacked down so close to so much qualified help!!
Hope his trip home is much safer.
Posted by squeetlebomb (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It so good to hear he has left the hospital OK. Thanks to the RN's help. That was above the call of duty.
Posted by jolee11 (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! First, I would like to clarify that Ms. Powell arrived to the victim first, and was "soon joined" by me, Sikes. Thanks for all the comments, even gottabehappy. The great thing about nurses; we would still do the same for you without hesitation.
Posted by amyrenene (anonymous) on February 2, 2010 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm proud to say I work with Susie. Good job ladies:) Glad Mr Dawson is ok!
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