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Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:45 AM Clerk's hand gets caught in safe Man is airlifted to Pitt after being freed By Gina Childress | Times Staff Writer STANTONSBURG -- It took almost three hours for Stantonsburg police, two volunteer fire departments, EMS, Wilson County Emergency Management, a safe technician and two local welders to free a man's hand from a safe Tuesday morning. A clerk who works in management at Friendly Mart and Grill on Moyton Avenue was attempting to free up some change that had gotten stuck in the dispenser of the safe by sticking his hand up into the opening, according to Gordon Deno, director of Wilson County Emergency Management. As the clerk reached up into the opening, a button was accidently hit and the gears inside the safe caught the fingers on his left hand, Deno said. Rescue workers tried numerous ways to free the clerk's hand but were unsuccessful. The company that services the safe, M&W Locksmith, was contacted and they sent a technician out to help. A decision was reached to use a blowtorch to cut through the back of the safe in an effort to reach the clerk's hand. Deno said the safe was constructed from one-quarter-inch steel, which made it difficult to cut. Around 11 a.m., T.J. Williams and Thomas Phinippi, both employees of a local steel working shop, Steel Dimensions, were able to get into the back of the safe with their torch. From there, emergency workers used a tool to pry the back of the safe open in order to reach the gears that were clamped on the clerk's fingers. The safe technician was able to take those gears apart, and the clerk was freed. The clerk, whose name was not released, was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital by EastCare because EMS technicians were concerned about possible nerve damage. gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821 |
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WC citizen said...
A big thanks to Blake with WCRS for all his hard work and efforts in helpin free the clerk.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Jeff in Wilson said...A big thanks to Blake with WCRS for all his hard work and efforts in helpin free the clerk.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Who ends up paying for all this?
Monday, July 06, 2009 at 2:38 PM
and I was thinking safes were safe? you know tight tolrence and stuf? MUST BE WRONG!!!
Friday, July 03, 2009 at 5:41 PM
i seen the police helicopter and ems there i was doing a change out down the street when it happened
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 6:12 PM
i hope damage not to bad
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 2:48 PM
