Mother, daughter injured when truck flips

FLORENCE - A mother and daughter are in Huntsville Hospital after they were injured Tuesday when their truck ran into a ditch on Railroad Avenue and flipped, authorities said.

Officials at Huntsville Hospital said Patricia Cox, 61, and her daughter, Alicia Cox, 32, both of Florence, were admitted to the hospital.

Patricia Cox was listed in fair condition, while her daughter's condition was considered to be serious.

Police said the two women were both flown by Air Evac to the hospital after the accident that occurred just after 11:30 a.m.

"It sounded like a train wreck," said Joseph Canerday, a nearby resident who was one of the first people on the scene. "I was at the apartments and heard something sliding and then the crash and a woman was yelling for help. I got there and another man came up and he called 911."

Canerday said he ran through a wooded area and over the railroad tracks to get to the truck that was flipped upside down in a ditch. He said when he got there the driver of the truck, who emergency personnel said was Alicia Cox, was trying to get out of the truck.

"She had her seat belt on and she was trying to get out. I told her to just take it easy and be still until help arrived," Canerday said. "I just sat there with her trying to keep her calm."

After getting Alicia Cox out, medical personnel with Lauderdale EMS transported her to a landing zone on Rickwood Road where the helicopter was waiting.

Florence firefighters worked for more than 45 minutes to remove Patricia Cox. Firefighters worked with air bags and wedges to lift the truck so they could get her out of the back window.

Authorities said when the truck rolled over, it crushed the roof down on top of the passenger, pinning her inside.

Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling south on Railroad Avenue when it ran off the west side of the road before crossing to the east side and into the ditch. The truck traveled more than 125 feet through the ditch before flipping on its top.

The accident is under investigation by the Florence Police Department.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.