A one-vehicle accident Tuesday evening on U.S. Hwy 377S near County Road 212 is being characterized as a “close call” by many emergency responders after a pickup ran off the road and landed in the bed of Clear Creek.

Shortly before 6:00pm Tuesday, the driver and passenger of the vehicle were traveling north on the highway when their Dodge king cab pickup ran off the road and into the ravine of Clear Creek.  The vehicle knocked down several small trees on the side of the highway, went over a concrete ledge, and collided with a concrete drainage wall in the dry creek bed. The vehicle had to be stabilized with supports as the injured were extricated with the Jaws of Life from the pickup.  Officials on scene said that the airbags did not deploy on the vehicle likely due to it colliding sideways in the drainage area.

Although the AirEvac Lifeteam helicopter arrived to transport the injured by air, their injuries were determined not to be life threatening and they were transported by ground ambulance to Brownwood Regional Medical Center.  According to officials on scene, the injuries included broken bones and bruises.

“It’s a testament to seat belts,” said Texas Department of Public Safety Cpl. Karl Keesee.  “This could have easily been a fatality.”

A large tow truck lifted the vehicle from the deep culvert and back onto the highway after the victims were transported.

Winchell Volunteer Fire Department, Brookesmith Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue 1 from Brownwood Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and Guardian EMS responded to the scene.

See photos from the accident scene below and a video of the pickup being lifted.

{denvideo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy5h_5YGwBc 400 300 }