Tractor cut in half in collision

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September 18, 2008

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By SUSAN WHEELDON, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Thu Sep 18, 2008, 10:44 PM EDT

Somerset — A Science Hill man was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center following a Thursday morning accident which split the tractor he was driving in half.

Loren Gerald Harness, 49, Science Hill, was still in the UK Medical Center emergency room last night and no condition could be obtained, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The accident, which occurred at 11:01 a.m. on Hickory Nut Road in Nancy, was between a tractor and a tanker truck, according to Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood.

Wood said at the time of the accident Brian K. Martin, 29, Liberty, Ky., was operating a 1989 Ford L 9000 tanker east on Hickory Nut Road when Harness, who was operating a 2006 John Deere Tractor with an 18-foot rake on the back, attempted to pull out of a side road, pulling in front of the tanker truck.

“With the tanker truck loaded with eight-and-a-half tons (of feed),” said Wood, “it made a sudden stop very hard.”

The sheriff also said the way the sun was shining onto the tanker truck’s windshield made reaction time shorter.

Wood said following the accident, Martin stated he had very little reaction time, as it seemed the tractor just appeared in front of him.

Meanwhile, Wood said Harness was conscious at the scene of the accident and talked to them about what happened.

“Harness stated he did look for oncoming traffic and simply did not see anything coming,” said Wood, noting the area he pulled out from was wooded, with tree limbs hanging out over the road, making the view difficult.

Harness was taken to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by the Somerset Fire/EMS Department and later transported to the UK Medical Center.

Assisting at the scene was the Nancy Volunteer Fire Department, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE) and the Special Response Team (SRT).

The Special Response Team was asked to respond because fluids from the tractor were on the roadway, as well as radiator fluid from the tanker truck, following the accident.

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