By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE ó A pair of workers for the Bill Graham for Governor campaign escaped serious injury when they were involved in a car accident Friday.
Hodge Coffield, chief of the China Grove Police Department, said a car with two of the young campaign workers pulled from a private driveway into the side of a tractor-trailer on West Church Street about 11:05 a.m.
Coffield said the 2004 Toyota Corolla was demolished by the truck’s trailer. He said the car pulled from a driveway at 407 W. Church St. and started west, the same direction the tractor-trailer was headed
“They ran right into the side of it,” Coffield said. “There was no reason given. Apparently they just didn’t see it.”
The Corolla was driven by James Hemstock, 18, of Fayetteville. His passenger was Eric Muller, 20, of Downers Grove, Ill.
Muller was the most seriously injured, complaining of back and neck pain, and was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Hemstock was taken to NorthEast Medical Center in Kannapolis.
The tractor-trailer, a 1998 Freightliner belonging to Corriher Trucking, was driven by Charles David Hodge, 54, of Old Crest Road, Salisbury. He wasn’t injured.
Tom Fetzer, a consultant for the Graham campaign, said both Hemstock and Muller were treated and released from their respective hospitals.
“Fortunately, they’re both fine,” Fetzer said.
He said he and other campaign workers were especially worried about the extent of Muller’s injuries.
“We were very concerned about him initially,” Fetzer said.
He said local police and other emergency workers did an excellent job of responding to the accident and treating both Hemstock and Muller.
Coffield said the Corolla was totaled in the accident while the trailer sustained $500 in damages. No charges were filed.
The site of the accident is near West Church Street’s intersection with Miller Road.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.