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The man who was struck while working in the bucket of a truck on March 12 is recovering.
This parked bucket truck was struck by a tractor trailer, causing the bucket truck operator to fall and become injured.
On Tuesday, March 12, 2024 around 1:50 p.m., a tractor trailer struck the deployed boom of a bucket truck causing the operator inside to fall out.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Marlboro Avenue and Patterson Street in Barnwell. A Georgia registered tractor trailer pulling a 53-foot enclosed trailer was traveling south on Marlboro Avenue in the outer lane when it “struck the bucket and the subject in the bucket was ejected,” states the Barnwell Police Department’s (BPD) report.
Stanley Richard Randolph, 56, of Blythewood, S.C., was installing cables to the overhead traffic lights to prevent movement during inclement weather when he was ejected. Randolph is employed with Grant Electrical Contracting based in Columbia, S.C., where he lives with his family.
According to BPD’s report, Randolph fell onto a sharp body panel of the truck, severely lacerating his leg. He then fell to the ground.
Before first responders arrived moments later, a witness of the accident rushed to the scene and put pressure on Randolph’s wound. According to Chief Michael Butts, this good Samaritan performed live-saving action until first responders were able to place a tourniquet on Randolph’s leg.
A week later, Randolph is still in the hospital receiving medical care and has undergone three surgeries, according to a close family member who declined to be named.
“We just want him to heal, and be able to recover from this. It is a miracle that he survived that,” said the family member.
The decision to call in a helicopter was made quickly by officials after the incident occurred. In cases requiring a medical helicopter, the patient is transported to the Barnwell Regional Airport off of Ellenton Street via ambulance and then transferred via helicopter to receive care.
However, a tire issue with the responding ambulance resulted in the helicopter changing route and landing in an adjacent lot to the scene. Randolph was then transported directly from the scene to the helicopter headed to Augusta, Ga. Crews were on scene for over an hour.
The 2016 Ford bucket truck in which Randolph was operating from was legally parked facing north against the curb in the outermost lane, according to BPD’s report. However, the bucket truck “did not have traffic control measures in place prior to moving the bucket out.”
According to Chief Michael Butts, two orange cones were placed in front and behind the truck.
BPD is not pursuing charges in relation to this accident.
The tractor trailer reportedly had $500 worth of damages, and the bucket truck had $1,000 worth of damages.
The People-Sentinel has contacted Grant Electrical Company but has not heard back as of press time.
