Tuesday wreck injures 3

Published 11:27 am Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Three people were injured, including one seriously, when two SUVs collided on U.S. Highway 27 North on Tuesday morning.

The wreck happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. 27 North and Bethel Road.

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A gray Dodge Durango driven by Johnny Dollar, 63, of Bainbridge, was traveling south on the highway, while at the same time, a Ford Explorer driven by Larry Perry of Cairo, Ga., was traveling west on Bethel Road, said BPS Officer Tim McCain.

As Perry attempted to cross the highway, the Explorer pulled out into the path of the Durango, which was unable to stop in time due to wet road conditions and other factors, McCain said. The front end of the Durango smashed into the passenger’s side door of the Explorer, causing major damage to both vehicles.

The passenger of the Durango, identified as Roger Holley, 62, of Climax, was the most seriously injured, according to BPS officers. It appeared Holley had fractured one of his legs in two places and he was visibly bleeding from the head, BPS Officer Pat Bryant said.

Emergency Medical Services personnel and Public Safety officers gathered around Holley’s passenger side door, working to free him from the vehicle and place him into a stretcher. An emergency medical helicopter was put on standby but later called off, Bryant said.

Dollar had complaints of back and neck injuries but was not seriously injured, officers said.

Perry, the driver of the Explorer, did not appear to be injured. However, a passenger, Charimine Charles, was taken to Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge with complaints of minor injuries, McCain said.

Decatur County Fire and Rescue and Bainbridge Public Works employees also assisted with the response and cleanup of the wreck.