July 22, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Rollover Accident Sends 6 to Hospital

■ Five teens thrown from back of open pickup

A single car accident last night that send six people to the hospital with various degrees of injuries was listed as "fortunate," by fire officials - fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured. The accident occurred shortly after midnight (12:10 a.m.) at 62^nd Street and Wallace in Cedar Grove. Kristy Coleman, 21, of Shreveport said that she was heading west on 62^nd Street toward Linwood when some type of mechanical malfunction caused the small Toyota pickup she was driving to veer left, slide and then rollover. The accident flattened the cab of the truck and left injured teenagers scattered across the roadway.

Five occupants in the back of the truck, Antonio Collins, 18, Jason Early, 19, Jarrard Thomas, 15, Jeffery Thomas, 16, and Michael Casey, 17, were all thrown from the vehicle. Also in the vehicle was the truck’s lone front seat passenger, 15-year-old, Darnesha Player. All complained and were treated by department paramedics with various degrees of injuries, from broken bones to "road rash" abrasions. When fire rescue companies arrived, all were sitting or lying on the curb near the accident. All six were transported to LSUMC.

Fire officers at the scene called for additional companies because of the numbers of injured. In all three medic units, used to transport the patients, two fire engines, a rescue truck, EMS supervisor, and district chief were needed. Coleman was not transported and no citations were issued by Shreveport police.

Fire officials caution about the dangers inherent with riding in the back of an open pickup truck. "There is absolutely nothing that can protect someone riding in the back of an open pickup truck in the likelihood of an accident, other than then moving into the cab and seat belting themselves. These teenagers were all very fortunate, in their injuries being minor. Like we have seen so many times in accidents that involve pickup trucks and someone riding in the back, we could have very well been working a multi-fatality event last night," said department spokesman Brian Crawford. ###