Monday morning, emergency services responded to a distress call on County Road 10 following an accident involving a man pinned between a trailer and his truck. The incident occurred around 8:10 AM, prompting the dispatch of multiple fire and EMS departments, including Tri-Valley EMS, Bellefontaine, West Liberty, and Perry townships.
Upon arrival, responders found a white Dodge Ram pickup truck jackknifed in a ditch with a gooseneck trailer facing east toward East Liberty. A mini excavator was partially off the trailer, resting precariously on bent metal ramps. The excavator’s tracks hovered just above the road surface.
The victim, identified as 36-year-old Thane Piatt, was in severe pain, with his left leg pinned between the trailer and the truck. Piatt recounted the events leading to the accident: while attempting to load the excavator, the trailer and truck began to move unexpectedly. He jumped from the excavator to stop the vehicle but inadvertently positioned his leg outside the driver’s side door, resulting in the trailer swinging and pinning his leg.
Firefighters and EMS worked quickly as additional support arrived. Tops Towing was en route with a rotator to assist in lifting the trailer off Piatt, but the decision was made to unload the excavator first. A fireman, skilled in operating heavy machinery, successfully maneuvered the excavator off the trailer. Once detached, the owner of the excavator arrived and helped pull the trailer away from Piatt’s leg, freeing him.
After being extricated, Piatt was placed on a cot and transported to Mary Rutan Hospital before being transferred to Grant Trauma Hospital. Emergency responders noted a significant laceration and crushing injury to his knee.
Investigations revealed contributing factors to the accident, including wet road conditions, and the steep incline of the driveway.
