Ala woman pinned under van 2 nights in Miss
Published 3:08 pm Thursday, October 28, 2010
A 74-year-old Mobile woman survived being pinned under her van for two nights after it rolled into a drainage ditch near Interstate 10 in Mississippi.
Authorities said Shirley Ann Smith, on her way to a casino, was getting out of the van Thursday night to stretch her legs when it came out of gear, rolled into the ditch and trapped her left hand under a tire.
It was not until Saturday morning that a highway grounds crew spotted the car and she was rescued. She remained in serious condition Tuesday at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, said hospital spokesman Richard Lucas.
Lt. David Morace, the on-scene officer in charge for the Moss Point fire department, said she was “groggy, but coherent” when he reached her about 9 a.m. Saturday. Inflated air bags placed under the vehicle were used to lift it and free Smith.
“I’ve been on several calls like that, but never anybody that laid out there for two days,” Morace said. “This woman here is a miracle. She is tough.”
Her son, Kenneth Woodward, agreed.
“She has a great will to live,” he said.