Man pulled from van after wreck

From Staff Reports

August 25, 2008 11:57 am

— The driver of a large passenger van had to be freed from his vehicle after it struck a utility pole and rolled over onto downed power lines Saturday night.
At 8:40 p.m., Logansport Fire Department, Cass County EMS and New Waverly Fire Department were called to the scene of the accident on 500E, south of U.S. 24.
Police said the driver, 37-year-old Daren E. McCracken of Logansport, lost control of the van, which then left the roadway and struck the pole. The force of the impact snapped the utility pole and detached the power lines. The van rolled on its side and became entangled in the lines.
A representative of Logansport Municipal Utilities responded to the scene to shut off power before the victim could be freed from the vehicle.
Emergency personnel said McCracken might have suffered a seizure, which could have caused the accident. The driver was unresponsive when emergency personnel arrived, but he eregained consciousness.
Cass County EMS transported McCracken to Logansport Memorial Hospital. He was later airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, where this morning a hospital representative said she had no one listed by that name.
The extent of McCracken’s injuries were not immediately known.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and Walton Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Photos

CUT FREE: As firefighters clear this crash scene, an LMU crew decides how to clear power lines from wreckage caused by a van crashing into a utility pole on 500E, south of U.S. 24. The accident occurred Saturday night. Efforts to rescue the driver were delayed by the live power lines.