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Car into pole accident with head injury in Alabama

By Billie Owens

A motor vehicle struck a pole and a male has a head injury at Shanks and Sand Hill roads -- on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: "He's bleeding pretty good," says a medic. Mercy Flight is called to the scene. A unit from Indian Falls Fire Department is also requested.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Fire police are told to block traffic at Bloomingdale Avenue and Shanks Road. Pembroke Fire Department is also responding. Mercy Flight has a five-minute ETA.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: Responders are working to secure the scene. Mercy Flight will arrive momentarily and hover in the air until it's OK to land. The update from medics to the pilot is that the victim is about 60. He is unconscious, and has head, abdominal and leg injuries. They are still working to extricate the victim.

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.: The patient has been extricated. He was a passenger in the front seat. The landing zone is secure and the bird will land soon.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 7:46 p.m.: Notifications have already been made to National Grid, which has damages to Pole #7470, and Verizon, which has a cable box there that's above ground and is "completely knocked over."

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne. Not sure of its destination.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: Apparently, there is a second victim, presumably the driver. He is also described as being 60-ish and is being being taken to UMMC by ambulance with head trauma and either in cardiac arrest or with a history of cardiac arrest. (CLARIFICATION: There was only one occupant in the vehicle.)

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Indian Falls is back in service.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

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