Cable damaged by trash truck strikes sheriff’s deputy

THE PLAINS – An Athens County Sheriff’s deputy was injured when he was struck in the neck by a phone cable damaged by a trash truck. According to Sheriff Pat Kelly, the incident occurred Friday on Route 33 near Circle Hill.

Reserve Deputy Matt May was in the path of the cable and before he could react, the wire struck him in the neck area flipping him onto the highway. May was transported to O’Blennes Memorial Hospital by the Athens County Emergency Medical Services where he was treated for abrasions to his neck and face.

Kelly said a low hanging telephone line supported by a metal cable was struck by a west bound trash truck the cable snapped at the top of the telephone pole and a four foot section of the pole and the cable was stretched across Route 33.

May and Lt. John Morris arrived to stop traffic from running over the wire. As May was walking on the eastbound side of the highway, a semi-trailer truck drove over the cable. The cable and a section of the pole hooked onto the truck and was dragged creating a loop along the highway striking May.

The Plains Fire Department responded to remove the cable and wire and the State Highway Patrol assisted at the scene.

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