An employee of Morgan County’s Department of Roads and Bridges is in the Intensive Care Unit at Piedmont Hospital in Athens following a freak accident at the scene of an accident on Pennington Road in the early morning hours of Aug. 28.
Ronnie Nolan was attempting to cut a tree with a chainsaw when the blade “got pinched and part of the tree snapped back” according to a report by the Morgan Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Earnest Spikes was dispatched to the scene and said the tree pinned Nolan to the ground with part of the tree resting on his legs. EMS was called to the scene.
Spikes said he attempted to lift the tree off of Nolan, but according to Cindy Williams of Morgan County Fire and Rescue, that section of the tree weighed approximately 600 pounds.
Spikes said Nolan appeared to be unresponsive at the scene.
According to Williams, a vehicle collided with a tree in the area and caused parts of the tree to become tangled in utility cables.
Personnel from the roads department were summoned to remove the tree at approximately 2 a.m. and then the accident happened.
According to reports, doctors have not yet determined the extent of Nolan’s injuries, but they are trying to keep him comfortable while they work to determine the best treatment plan.