By Patrick McCreless
patrickm@cullmantimes.com
Paramedics airlifted an Eva woman to a Huntsville hospital Monday after her vehicle slammed into an 18-wheeler in Falkville.
Alabama State Trooper reports indicate Vada Smith, 77, was the only person injured during a two-vehicle crash at approximately 11:14 a.m. at the exit off County Road 55 onto Highway 65 South. Members of the Falkville Fire and Rescue required extrication equipment to remove Smith from her mangled vehicle.
Smith, who was traveling in a gray 2002 Le Sabre Custom Buick, was wearing her seat belt and her air bag deployed at the time of the crash. Her condition was not known by deadline.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, Arthur Hampton, said he is still not sure how the wreck occurred. Hampton said he was attempting to exit onto Highway 65 South at the time of the collision.
“All I know is a car hit me from the right and started pushing,” Hampton said. “I wouldn’t even know what hit me unless I went out and looked.”
The 18-wheeler, which Hampton was driving from Franklin, Tenn. to Birmingham, received minor damage on its right side. Smith’s vehicle, however, was a total loss. The collision was so intense that the Buick’s hood was ripped off completely.
State troopers are still investigating the cause of the crash.
