April 30, 2013

By Jennifer Beatty

An extrication accident occurred at the intersection of Rothwell and Wappel drives Friday.

No passengers had life-threatening injuries.

The Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to the accident at 3:11 p.m., according to a Columbia Police Department press release.

Police officers were dispatched at 3:13 p.m. CPD was already at the scene of the accident when firefighters arrived, CPD spokesman Sergeant Joe Bernhard said.

“For roll-over accidents and unknown injury accidents, they dispatch the fire department,” Bernhard said.

The car had significant damage to the passenger side. The front seat passenger, 16, and rear seat passenger, 19, were still inside the car. The driver was outside the vehicle, Bernhard said.

The fire department’s rescue squad and additional units were dispatched after the accident was upgraded to an extrication accident.

“The rescue squad carries equipment for extrication accidents along with special equipment,” Fire Marshal Brad Frazier said.

Both passengers were transported to the University Hospital.

Along with CPD officers, fire department officials determined the accident originally occurred on Faurot Drive. The car hit a tree, which caused the damage. The driver then drove the car into the intersection, according to the press release.

“It looked like he was going at a high rate of speed and lost control,” Bernhard said.

The vehicle most likely hit a bump near the intersection and crashed into the tree, Bernhard said.

Neighbors called 911, not the driver, Bernhard said.

CPD arrested Antwane Grant, 18, at 2:39 p.m. on charges for leaving the scene of an accident and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent matter. Grant was not listed in the Boone County Jail’s current inmate list.

This extrication accident is the second in 2013, Frazier said. There were 17 extrication accidents in 2012.

“The fire department trains regularly for incidents,” Frazier said.