Updated at 5:50 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 56-year-old man is hospitalized with a broken neck after falling from next to his truck into the large container where he was unloading at the Lewis County garbage transfer station in Centralia yesterday.
The man was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe concussion and possibly other broken bones, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
Nobody saw him fall in or knew he was down there until someone heard his calls for help, according to authorities.
Firefighters and medics called about noon to the 1400 block of South Tower Avenue helped him up the ladder after he regained consciousness and transported him to Providence Centralia Hospital, Firefighter-Paramedic Jennifer Ternan said. He was transferred to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, she said.
It appeared from reviewing security video there were three customers dropping off debris at the same time and it was less than three minutes before a man in the vehicle adjacent heard the injured man, according to Paulette Young, the county risk manager who was summoned to the scene.
The container, about the size of an open-topped semi truck trailer, was about half full of trash and debris, according to Ternan. The man fell 10 to 12 feet, Ternan said.
The situation could have been far worse given the various materials piled up inside.
“He lucked out,” she said. “It was (still) a long fall, and he fell right on his head.”
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CORRECTION: This news item has been updated to correctly reflect the manner in which the discovery of the accident victim was made.
My son was the first one to hear and respond to Dans cry’s for help. He did not know where he was or what his name was. After calling 911; I found his name in his truck. My son told him to stay put and dont move; help was on they way. When he heard his name he looked up and it was obvious that he had a head injury. His eyes were very dilated and his head was bleeding. He was compliant and followed directions. we could not find anyone who worked there so we talked to Dan until an employee did arrive.
When the Response Units arrived we left. I am amazed that they let him climb out on his own. A stretcher should have been lowered to retract him. I hope this didn’t compound his injuries.
My prayers go with Dan and his family,
I was the first to see Dan in the pit and call 911. I am glad that he is ok.
I KNOW HIS SISTER IN LAW PERSONALLY TOO AND HE HAS A FRACTURE IN HIS LOWER BACK AS WELL. SO IN RESPONSE TO OBSERVANT: IT MUST HAVE BEEN BY THE POWER OF GOD OR OUT OF SHEAR SHOCK THAT HE CLIMBED OUT BY THAT LADDER AS MOTHER2THREE HAS INDICATED. MY HUSBAND FRACTURED HIS NECK AT WORK AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR 2 MONTHS NOT KNOWING IT WAS A FRACTURE, (UNTIL HE COLLAPSED TO HIS KNEES) HE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST EXCRUCIATING PAIN HE HAD EVER DEALT WITH. THE FIRST RESPONDERS SHOULDN’T HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO DO THIS CONSIDERING HE FELL STRAIGHT ONTO HIS HEAD, KNOWING THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A SPINAL CORD INJURY AT THE CERVICAL SPINE AND OR LUMBAR SPINE. HE IS ONE VERY LUCKY MAN THANK GOD!! PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS *-|-*
Observant, don’t assume that a broken neck means that the victim knew that he had a neck injury. Or more probably the victim might have refused any special treatment for his fall. (c-spine protection) I find it hardly believable that the first responders would have said “ya go ahead you look fine.. thumbs up” Broken neck just means there is a broken bone in his neck.
Please, keep him in your prayers!
@observant. My family personally knows him and he did – from his own mouth today – climb a ladder out of the trailer after his fall. My guess is by the power of God and shock.
A 56-year-old man is hospitalized with a broken neck
Firefighters and medics called about noon to the 1400 block of South Tower Avenue helped him up the ladder after he regained consciousness
I’m impressed he climbed a ladder after being unconscious and suffering a broken neck! Either super human powers or poor diagnosis from the first responders or both.