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CopyWoman suffers severe injuries after falling from moving vehicle
Tuskegee police are investigating an incident Saturday, September 26, where a woman sustained serious injuries after exiting a moving vehicle.
At approximately HK45 a.m., two local women were driving behind a vehicle on Chappie James Drive in Tuskegee when they witnessed Bernice Ellington, 59, of White Street in Tuskegee, leave the car while it was moving.
The two witnesses said while they were following the vehicle carrying Ellington, which they described as a tan Lincoln model car, it swerved slightly and the passenger side door opened.
Witnesses said the door closed immediately after. Within moments, though, the door opened a second time and Ellington fell from the vehicle while it was traveling approximately 25 to 30 miles per hour. The car Ellington exited continued to drive.
The two witnesses said they feared for their safety after the incident, but stopped, called 911 and remained in their vehicle. Tuskegee Police arrived within 10 minutes of the incident, followed moments later by the Tuskegee Fire Department.
Ellington, a former employee at VictoryLand known to travel primarily by foot around Tuskegee, sustained injuries on all four appendages and a severe wound to her head. She was treated promptly by TFD personnel to stop heavy bleeding and prepare her for travel to a local hospital.
CARE Ambulance Service was unavailable when contacted and a Life Flight helicopter arrived to transport Ellington. It lifted off from Tuskegee at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Tuskegee Police Chief Lester Patrick said Ellington is still in the intensive care unit at a Columbus hospital. Patrick said she is currently in an induced coma and is scheduled to undergo her third surgery to relieve swelling on her brain. As of Tuesday, September 29, Patrick said the case in currently under investigation and new leads were being pursued.
If anyone has information on this incident, contact the Tuskegee Police Department at (334) 727-3020.
Copyright 2009 The Tuskegee News, Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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