Man loses hand in crash on Mount Graham

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Monday, June 29, 2009 5:32 PM MST

A Safford man had to have his hand amputated after it was crushed under his truck Friday night.

John Davis, 20, of Safford, was driving a lifted white Ford F-250 on the dirt portion of Highway 366 between Hospital Flat and Old Columbine when he hit a rough patch in the road. According to Department of Safety officer Steve Loya, Davis said his foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator as he neared a curve. Davis momentarily lost control and the truck veered up the side of the bank and tipped over. Davis allegedly told Loya he put his arm out of the window to brace himself as the truck tipped over, and it was crushed under the vehicle.

An off-duty Pima firefighter and paramedic from the Tucson Fire Department arrived at the scene and assisted Davis, according to a Graham County Dispatch report.

Davis was moved to the Columbine Forest Ranger Station, but a helicopter from Lifenet was not able to land at the location. Davis was moved farther down the mountain near the Turkey Flat area, and the helicopter was able to pick him up and transport him to the University Medical Center in Tucson. He was listed as being in fair condition Monday and said he expected to be discharged later this week.

Davis' passenger, Kristy Levy, did not need medical assistance, according to Loya.

He classified the crash as a single-vehicle accident and said there were no indications of impairment.

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