042621 FIREFIGHTERS WORK 2 HOURS TO FREE TRAPPED GARBAGE TRUCK DRIVER

At 7:24 am Monday North Montgomery County Fire was dispatched to Old Highway 105 at Metts Road. Units arrived on the scene to find a Santek garbage truck on its side in a ditch and ravine and against a large pine tree. The driver who operates the truck from the right side was entrapped. Crews immediately went to work. A heavy-duty wrecker was requested to the scene to assist. Milstead Heavy Duty arrived and was able to hook to the rear of the truck. The driver was so wrapped in the cab that firefighters had a difficult time even getting tools into it. Crews worked with what they had for two solid hours. A medical doctor had already been alerted for the possibility of having to do a field leg amputation. The driver's leg was under the dash and behind the steering column. What made matters worse was where he ran off the road in the deep ditch there was a cross ravine the nose of the truck went into before striking a large pine tree. He was finally freed and transported to HCA Conroe in critical condition. Diesel fuel spilling started flowing into the creek. Commissioner Metts assisted Milstead at putting pads and booms down while waiting for a Hazmat team to arrive. Milstead Heavy Duty removed the truck however Sam Houston Electric was forced to cut power to about 1000 homes due to power lines directly above the scene. The driver's family arrived on the scene along with co-workers as they watched crews work to remove the driver. DPS is investigating the crash. Old 105 will be closed the remainder of the day between Metts and California as HAZMAT crews work to clean the spill.