Crime report: accidents up over weekend

By Tiffiny Woo

Published: September 2, 2008

The Eufaula Police Department investigated 15 traffic accidents between Thursday and Tuesday mornings.
That number is nearly tripled from the department’s average, which is six. Capt. Tim Marsh of the EPD stated on Tuesday morning that the increased number of accidents could be due to high traffic volume over the Labor Day weekend.
Lt. Will Slade of the Eufaula Fire and Rescue Squad said that increased traffic usually leads to an increase in accidents, but that few of those accidents tend to be critical.
“People tend to be going slower when traffic is heavy,” he said. “So, when an accident does occur it’s usually nothing life threatening.”
The EPD also reported an increase in traffic arrests with 113 citations issued for the reporting period, including 60 for speeding, 17 for no seat belts, 13 for no proof of insurance, 6 for driving while suspended, 3 for improper tag, 2 each for DUI, running a stop sign, no driver’s license and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and 1 each for running a red light, driving while revoked, violation of license restrictions, no headlights, expired tag and improper muffler.
Perhaps the most unusual motor vehicle accident reported over the weekend actually occurred on a lawn mower. The Eufaula Rescue reported that an elderly woman traveling on the roadway Saturday afternoon on a lawn mower rolled the mower over into a nearby ditch. The woman was not seriously injured from the incident.

Eufaula Crime Report
• Several reports of harassment were filed at LakePoint Resort Park on Sunday evening at approximately 6:30 p.m. The three reports filed seemed to stem from a fight that occurred where on-lookers were assaulted. No serious injuries were reported.
• A 5-year-old boy nearly drowned on Sunday at a local hotel swimming pool. According to police reports, the boy was sitting on the side of the pool when he fell in for no apparent reason. A family member administered CPR to the child, which restarted his breathing and caused him to vomit up large amounts of water. The boy was transported to the hospital for further treatment.
• The Beeline on Baker Hill Highway reported a gas drive-off for $74.13 on Sunday.
• A Winn-Dixie shopper reported theft of her wallet and its contents ($170) on Monday. The wallet was taken from her purse while she shopped.

Fire and Rescue
The Eufaula Fire and Rescue reported 2 fire calls, 4 motor vehicle collisions, 14 medical and 1 other incident for a total of 21 incidents between Thursday and Monday mornings.
The department will soon be switching to a new, state-wide, trauma system that will require personnel to transport critical patients directly to hospitals, where they can receive treatment.
In the past, EMS personnel have transported patients to the local hospital for stabilization before routing them to other facilities for specialized care.
Lt. Will Slade says the new system is expected to decrease fatalities but will also require some operational or personnel shifts to accommodate transfers.
“You’ll probably be seeing a lot more helicopters buzzing around all over the area not just to the hospital,” says Slade.
• Eufaula fire fighters responded to a building fire call on Thursday afternoon at 402 W. Union Street. A small, smoldering fire was located in the bathroom of the residence originating from a pile of clothes on the floor. Upon investigation it was determined that the fire apparently started from a cigarette, or its ashes, that was discarded near the pile of clothes.