Driver describes close call with death on The Murfreesboro Post

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Driver describes close call with death

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By: JONATHAN FAGAN, editor@murfreesboropost.com

Posted: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:37 am

Driver describes close call with death | Murfreesboro, MPD, Tennessee, Rutherford County, Traffic, Brian Galford, Middlepoint Landfill

Brian Galford, of Murfreesboro, was driving along Jefferson Pike (Highway 266) when a garbage truck sent a softball-sized rock through his windshield, nearly striking him in the face. (Photo by D. Gardonia)

A Murfreesboro man’s close call with death has again highlighted a dangerous decade-long situation in north Murfreesboro.

Brian Galford, of Nottaway Court, was driving along Jefferson Pike (Highway 266) approaching Lanny Lane Bridge when an Allied Waste garbage truck leaving the Middlepoint Landfill sent a softball-sized rock through his windshield, nearly striking him in the face.

According to Galford, the rock was “catapulted off the top of the truck by a mechanically operated tarp and flew 20 feet into the air before crashing” through his truck’s windshield, tearing through the dash, bending the steering wheel, shaving the skin from his neck, skipping off the headrest and exiting through the rear window.

When he pulled over, bleeding heavily, and tried to flag someone down for help, a landfill manager showed up “seemingly unconcerned” and asked for his personal information but declined to call for help.

“He said someone will get in touch with me and disappeared,” Galford said, adding he was forced to call law enforcement himself, who sent an ambulance that transported him to Middle Tennessee Medical Center's emergency room.

He was discharged later that day with contusions, bruising, swelling and considerable soreness on his left side.

“I just thank God that I was not driving a car with children in the back and that I was able to dodge enough to keep it from smashing into my neck or face,” he said. “Someone definitely could have been killed, and if my head had been a couple inches to the left that someone would have been me.”

Residents along Jefferson Pike have requested for the road to be improved for years.

Tagged under Brian Galford, Middlepoint Landfill, MPD, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, Traffic

Member Opinions:

By: BlackHawk93 on 1/31/12
It's pretty sad that whoever this was from the landfill who stopped was only concerned about getting this man's information for legal purposes, I'm sure, and didn't have the compassion or concern to at least call for help. I work in the health field and stop every time I see someone who's been involved in an accident or wreck, and can't imagine someone not having enough compassion to at least call for an ambulance. Obviously this guy works in the trash industry for a reason.