Motorcyclist injured in crash

A motorcyclist was injured last week after colliding with a car on Mantee Road in Webster County.

The July 19 accident was reported at 5:28 p.m. and occurred a couple of miles southwest of Mantee, said Sheriff's Deputy Derek May.

He identified the drivers involved as Jessica Hitt Green, 39 of Gore Springs, who was on a Yamaha motorcycle, and William Crenshaw, 40, of Mathiston, who was in a 2001 Chevy Malibu. Neither had any passengers.

May said Green was traveling northeast and Crenshaw southwest when the collision occurred in a long stretch of road on a bridge. The motorcycle came across the road into the other lane, sideswiping the car, according to May. He said Crenshaw swerved into the bridge guardrails to try to avoid contact.

Members of the Mantee Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene as did North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora Emergency Medical Services. Green was taken by ambulance to the new helicopter pad at Mantee to rendezvous with NMMC's CareFlight medical transport helicopter from Tupelo.

She was listed in stable condition Tuesday at NMMC. Crenshaw, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured. May, who said no citations were issued, stated his report is incomplete at this time.

Helipad Used

Mantee Fire Chief David Brand said CareFlight was already at the helicopter landing zone and waiting to airlift Green to Tupelo when the ambulance delivered her to the helipad.

Dedicated just nine days before the accident, citizens and volunteer firefighters joined forces to create the helipad for use in medical emergencies. Brand confirmed last week's accident was the first time it was used for a call.

"We really hate to use it but that's what it's there for," he said. One of the flight medics called him the next day to tell him how much he appreciated the availability of the helipad, Brand related.