Wreck sends three to hospital

Friday, May 16, 2014
Emergency crews prepare to have Fox's vehicle towed from the scene. The roof and door of Fox's truck were removed before he could be pulled from the wreckage. Photos by Nicole Garner/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

A three-car accident Thursday on east Highway 54 resulted in a Harwood man being cut from his truck and flown to Joplin for medical treatment.

According to a report by Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Krehbiel, the collision occurred at 11:34 a.m., three miles east of Nevada. Three vehicles -- a truck driven by Nathan Fox, 20, of Harwood, a truck driven by Herald Boehs, 66, of Nevada, and an SUV driven by Robert Fry, 72, of Bisbee, Ariz. -- were involved in the accident. A fourth driver, Amber Larson, of El Dorado Springs, was following behind the vehicles involved in the accident, and pulled over. She was not injured, and her vehicle did not sustain any damage.

Trooper Jason Krehbiel examines wreckage following the three-car collision. The three drivers and one passenger were transported to hospitals in the area for further examination.

Krehbiel's report said Boehs vehicle slowed to make a left turn into his driveway. Fox's truck then struck Boehs' from behind. Boehs' truck then crossed into the second lane, where it struck Fry's oncoming SUV.

Fry, and a passenger, 72-year-old Christine Fry, received minor injuries. The couple were transported by ambulance to Nevada Regional Medical Center. Boehs had moderate injuries, and was taken by his wife to Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kans.

Fox was pinned in the driver's seat of his crushed Ford Explorer. About 15 emergency responders worked for nearly 45 minutes to remove him from the truck. The top of the vehicle and the driver's side door were cut off before he could be removed from the wreckage.

Several of Fox's family members arrived at the scene while emergency personnel worked to pull him from the wreckage. His mother, Denise Fox, said she was able to speak with her son when he was removed from the truck. Fox told her he was "fine" as he was moved onto a stretcher.

"It's amazing he survived that," she said.

After Fox was removed from the truck, he was transported by helicopter to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin for medical attention. Medical crews on the scene said Fox had a broken leg, but would be further evaluated at the hospital for additional injuries.

The collision held up east and westbound traffic on Highway 54 for nearly an hour. Eastbound traffic was backed up from the intersection of 1900 Road to the Nevada Municipal Airport, nearly a mile and a half. Drivers nearing the area on Highway 54 from either side of the accident were redirected on county rounds.

Garwood Wrecker took away several of the damaged vehicles. According to the accident report, all three vehicles suffered extensive damage, though Fox's car could be considered a total loss after crews pried apart the vehicle during rescue efforts.

Jordan Johnson, who heard the wreck from his home on Highway 54, said he did not see the accident, but rushed outside moments after it happened. He said people speed on the road frequently, and that it's dangerous to pull out onto the road from driveways off the highway.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: