A local man remains in a Cape Girardeau, Mo., hospital today after he was struck by an SUV while he crossing Highway WW, south of the railroad overpass.
At about 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, Daniel Lynn Spradling, 66, of the 100 block of Magpie Lane was operating a 2006 Buick Rendezvous southbound on Highway WW, according to Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Austin Lemonds' report.
At the same time, Lemonds said, James Robert Councilor, 39, of the 2000 block of Arkansas Avenue was walking southbound on Highway WW on the west side of the road.
Lemonds said Councilor attempted to cross the road, east of the hillcrest of the railroad overpass, and in doing so, he "failed to use the provided sidewalk, which has barriers from the road."
Councilor also reportedly failed to use a crosswalk when crossing the road.
"While (Councilor) attempted to cross the road, he was struck by (Spradling's SUV)," Lemonds said.
Councilor reportedly broke the driver's side headlight on Spradling's SUV, as well as damaged its windshield before he landed near the northbound shoulder of the road.
When Poplar Bluff firefighters responded, they reportedly found Councilor lying on the side of the road and provided him with basic first aid until emergency medical services personnel from Medic One arrived.
EMS personnel began treating Councilor, who was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the south parking lot of the Black River Coliseum to await the arrival of a medical helicopter.
Firefighters subsequently provided manpower to assist the Air Evac Lifeteam in landing its helicopter on the parking lot.
EMS personnel from both Medic One and Air Evac then worked to prepare Councilor for transport, and the helicopter lifted off at about 12:15 p.m. en route to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
According to Lemonds, Councilor's injuries were not life threatening.