Monday, June 8, 2009

Fall River Road Resident Airlifted Following Explosion

   A resident of Fall River Road working in his yard Monday afternoon was flown by helicopter to a Nashville hospital following an explosion.

   According to witnesses, resident John Forsythe had been working in his yard throughout the afternoon. Shortly before 4:00 p.m., they speculate that he had been burning debris in the back yard when the fire apparently got out of control, spreading to a gas can and resulting in an explosion in the back porch area of the home.

   Witnesses indicated that John Carroll, the relative of a neighbor, had been cutting grass when he heard the explosion. Carroll ran to the Forsythe home and saw that the back of the house was engulfed in flames and the front door had been blown off its hinges. Carroll reportedly entered the smoke-filled house, found Forsythe lying inside, and pulled him to safety in the front yard. Witnesses indicated that Forsythe was in a semi-conscious state. Forsythe’s wife was not home at the time of the explosion.

   Forsythe reportedly suffered serious injuries, including second and third degree burns to his back and head. He was transported by ambulance to Crockett Hospital, then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

   Sources indicate that the Forsythe home was completely destroyed in the blaze.

   The matter remains under investigation at the present time.