Local Woman Is Recovering After Being Pinned In Wreck For Over an Hour Last Wednesday Night

An area teenager is recovering at home this week after a harrowing ordeal last Wednesday night.

Shady D. Flippo, 19, of Seymour, crashed the 1995 Jeep Cherokee she was driving on Highway 14, west of Ava, and was pinned underneath the vehicle for over an hour.

Rescue workers from Ava Rural, Goodhope and Ava City fire departments used hydraulic extrication tools and air bags to lift the vehicle and free the young woman who was airlifted to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Flippo was cared for at the scene of the crash by paramedics with Cox Ambulance, which then transported her to the Ava airport where she was put on the helicopter and flown to the Springfield hospital.

The wreck, which occurred on Highway 14, eight miles west of Ava, was reported at 10 p.m. and it was after midnight when the patient was loaded onto the helicopter for the flight to Springfield.

The young driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, became trapped when the overturned Jeep pinned her left arm. Otherwise, her injuries were moderate. However, due to the length of time she was pinned, and because of the injuries to the pinned arm, the incident was very critical.

The Herald was told Tuesday that Miss Flippo is looking at several months of therapy on the arm, but she does have use of the limb.

Flippo is a popular horse trainer and rider, involved with 4-H Club and other equestrian activities.

The crash occurred as the eastbound Jeep ran off the right side of the roadway. The driver overcorrected, traveled back across the roadway and went off the left side of the roadway, down a steep embankment, overturning and striking a tree.

The wreck was investigated by Sgt. Keith Jones, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol has also released the name of the driver who was involved in the crash north of Ava last Wednesday that took out a utility pole.

The Patrol said Steven G. Burgin, 56, of Ava, was driving the westbound 2001 Ford pickup that ran off the right side of Highway 76 and hit the pole. That single-vehicle crash occurred at 12:01 p.m. Jan. 4, five miles northeast of Ava.

Burgin was taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield with moderate injuries.

The wreck was investigated by Sgt. Jones and Tpr. John Roberts.