Seven People Injured When Mental Health Van Overturns On Dirt Road

August 12, 2010

Seven people were injured when a van overturned near Flomaton Thursday afternoon.

The accident happened about 2:20 p.m. on Friendship Road north of Highway 31. The driver of the Southwest Alabama Metal Health & Metal Retardation Board van apparently lost control on the narrow, muddy dirt road. The van slid and overturned onto its side.

Preliminary reports indicated that there were 10 people on the van. Seven were transported to area hospitals by ambulance; two of those were considered to be in more serious conditions by emergency workers on scene.  An unknown number of patients were trapped in the van and were extricated by emergency workers.

Pictured above: Firefighters work to extricate one of seven people injured in a van crash Thursday afternoon near Flomaton. Pictured below:  Emergency workers treat one of the serious injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Seven People Injured When Mental Health Van Overturns On Dirt Road”

  1. kathy on August 17th, 2010 11:04 am

    not pointing fingers, but i know the road and I have looked at the accident site,, see no cause to hit a tree and overturn..Road is wet then we as drivers must take extra precaution. I have sit and watched this particular vehicle( don’t know if its the same driver) but fly in a 15 mile per hour speeding zone with children at play (school zone) so again is speeding a big factor?and also on the cell phone
    understand no cell phone use was involved until after accident..but again who knows about the speeding

  2. CF on August 15th, 2010 7:56 pm

    I have worked for SouthWest Mental Health and when you have a consumer who lives on a dirt road you just can’t wait until the road dries before you tale them home, it is just like riding a school bus,,you take them home at their appointed time. Any I know that they talke all precaution in saftey, we were train in van training to face situations like this. I am sure that the van driver was doing his/her best not to SLIDE off the road, we don’t know what conditions they may have been faced with, maybe the driver was caught off gaurd with a consumer being out of control…who know we was not there so please don’t point fingers.

  3. MolinoGurl on August 14th, 2010 9:09 pm

    When your on a muddy road like that speed doesnt have to be a factor at all to have an accident like this. I try my best to AVOID dirt roads after in rains untill they are dried up. I was once driving on 1 and almost lost control of my blazer but thankfully didnt and I was going as slow as I good. Stay in folks when you can in rainy weather.

  4. David Huie Green on August 14th, 2010 4:06 pm

    I don’t know a thing about it but when anyone says speed was not a factor, I wonder if it would have still overturned if it were not moving. If the answer is no, then speed is a factor. It may not be the major factor, but surely it is A factor.

  5. jdm Escambia Al. Native on August 14th, 2010 10:14 am

    No, speed was not a factor, fresh rain and a dirt road was the factor.

    Some are quick to point out someone else speeding but readily admit they themselves were speeding when they observed the one their accusing. When you point a finger,,,,,, if you will look there are three pointing at you.

  6. Chrissy on August 13th, 2010 3:55 pm

    so sad =( hope every1 is ok!

  7. terry freeman on August 13th, 2010 2:39 pm

    The vans for Lakeview center fly , I’ve been doing 75 mph and they would pass me , like I was tied down or something. So yes I for one believe speed could have been a larger facter. Just hope all involved are o.k. God bless all

  8. Peter on August 13th, 2010 2:35 pm

    I live on that road. it dont matter if it is dry or wet that road is alway slippery. The gravel on that road does not pack down. Prayers be with all of them

  9. kathy on August 13th, 2010 1:56 pm

    wonder if speeding was a contributor to the accident

  10. Stephanie on August 13th, 2010 8:26 am

    I hope that everyone is ok.

  11. D on August 12th, 2010 4:56 pm

    Prayers for everyone involved!