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Man trapped in forklift accident at China Grove business

Thursday, April 30, 2009 3:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — A southern Rowan County man using a forklift to move a car at Gordon's Used Parts and Cars was temporarily trapped when he was knocked off the machine Wednesday.

Steven Smith, of Mount Hope Church Road, works at the business and was using the forklift to move salvaged vehicles around 12:30 p.m.

One of the vehicles fell off the forklift and onto a van, throwing Smith from the forklift, said Bostian Heights Fire Chief Mike Zimmerman.

The Bostian Heights Fire Department responded to the business at 611 China Grove Road, using a winch to brace the forklift and get Smith out safely.

"He was laying under the forklift near a van. All the weight was on the van. But we couldn't enter until we secured the piece of equipment," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman said Smith was complaining of injuries in his hip and back, so he was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

The China Grove Fire Department set up a landing zone at a nearby school.

Emergency radio dispatches indicated Smith, who is in his 40s, may have had a broken leg. But co-workers were told Wednesday afternoon he had no broken bones.

"He's fine," a co-worker said by phone.

The China Grove Police Department and Rowan Rescue Squad also responded to the accident.

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