A carrier with the Fayetteville Observer newspaper was impaled on a wrought-iron fence for more than two hours last Monday. According to Fayetteville Police the victim was a man named Kevin Williams, 51. He was treated at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and was released to recover at home.
The newspaper carrier mistakenly threw a bundle of papers into an alley on the 200 block of Old Street at about 3 a.m. and had to scale a fence to retrieve the papers. As the victim stated, “After pulling off, I realized that I threw the wrong set of newspapers over there,” he said. “If I had just left them there, I would have been short newspapers.”
Williams made it over the fence without a hitch, but when he attempted to climb back over to continue his deliveries one of the spikes atop the fence gouged right into his calf. The carrier then found himself dangling upside-down, bleeding and alone.
With resourceful action, Williams used his belt to keep his head elevated as much as possible allowing him to pull his calf off the fence after about 90 minutes, but his right foot remained entangled in the fence. Williams said, “I was scared, and I was praying that I don’t want to die this way. I wasn’t panicking. I was just concerned that nobody would come around.”
Hospital officials say Williams severed two arteries in his leg and lost about a quart of blood during the ordeal. The injury needed 16 stitches to close the gash in his leg and requires him to use a leg brace. Williams has delivered newspapers for nine years and said he plans to continue in the job once he recovers. The incident is the second time in three months that someone was impaled on a wrought-iron fence in Fayetteville.
When you have been injured doing your job and can’t get back to work anytime soon, you will have to communicate this with your employer. Being injured on the job entitles you to certain right and protections. No matter what relationship you may have with your employer, don’t sign any deals with them until consulting with an attorney that specializes in injury law. Your employer may try to short-change you on what you are owed for your time away from work. Don’t take the risk seek legal consultation when you are injured on the job.
BM