Photo by Jesse Evans (More photo below)
Twas the week before Christmas and in Deputy Crider’s house, he was enjoying morning coffee along with his spouse.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, he sprang from his kitchen to see what was the matter.
And what to his wondering eyes should he see, but a Buick Regal parked on its side between trees.
He spoke not a word but went straight to the chore, of rescuing the driver through the passenger door.
And Deputy Crider exclaimed as they towed the car out of sight, Happy Christmas to all and learn how to drive right.
And that’s about how it happened, with some poetic license.
Deputy Jerry Crider’s day off did start with a bang Tuesday morning as a car came crashing into his yard ending up on its side between two trees.
The incident occurred around 6:50 a.m. on Highway 32 East as Mike Fleming of Bodcaw was headed north to work in his Buick Regal when he says a large hound dog ran in front of him. Fleming says he swerved unsuccessfully attempting to miss the animal causing his car to lose traction and slide.
His car left the west side of the highway, hitting hard in the ditch and continuing into Deputy Crider’s yard. The Buick was headed straight toward a large pine tree and Flemming said he braced himself for what he expected to be a hard and painful impact. At the last second, the car’s front right side hit a small incline going up to the tree causing the car to barely clip the tree and turn the vehicle onto its side with little space between the vehicle and the two trees on either side of it.
Deputy Crider helped Flemming up out of the car’s passenger door.
Members of the Southeast Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene and inspected the car to see if it was on fire. They determined the smoke was from fluids from the car’s motor and that there was no fire hazard.
Pafford EMS arrived on scene but did not have to stay long since Flemming was uninjured.
Deputy Michael Bradock responded to Crider’s calls over the radio and handled the scene until Arkansas State Trooper Travis Hale arrived on the scene.
Reese’s Towing and Recovery removed the car from between the trees and hauled it from the scene on a flatbed due to the damage sustained by the vehicle.
