Backhoe Accident Sends Assistant County Road Foreman To Hospital

An overturned backhoe sits beside E. Poteet Road after an accident on Tuesday.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
It was a scary moment for county road workers when a backhoe operated by assistant county road foreman Greg Carroll overturned.

County crews were working on E. Poteet Road, which is located near the 6000 block of Nolin Dam Road. According to Foreman Ray Page, Carroll was clearing off mud and debris from the shoulder of the road with the bucket of the backhoe.

Page said it appeared that the bucket likely gouged a place on the pavement that shifted the back end of the machine just enough to throw it off balance. When it did, the back end moved towards the embankment off the right hand side of the shoulder and its momentum caused the backhoe to overturn. 

​County road crews clean out road tiles and see that the shoulder of roads are clear as part of their regular duties. 

Page said workers on scene were able to help Carroll out of the machine. He was transported to the Medical Center by Edmonson EMS.

An overturned backhoe sits beside E. Poteet Road after an accident on Tuesday.

Page said he received reports from Carroll's family that other than some bruises, Carroll seemed to be doing okay. 

"We're lucky with as much work we do, and the type of work it is, we don't see things like this very much," said Page. "Things could've been a lot worse. Hopefully Greg will be back soon."

Page said they used the road department's wrecker to upright the backhoe. He said it started up and seems to be in order, other than some broken glass.

Responding to the scene was Edmonson County JAWS, Brownsville Fire Department, Edmonson EMS, Brownsville Fire Department, and District 5 Constable.

*Update 12/4/18, 3:48pm: an earlier version of this article failed to include the District 5 Constable in the list of those responding. This information was not provided to us in our interviews.