The SCVFD was dispatched along with other emergency agencies to 235 Oak Grove Road on October 18, 2023 around 12:50 pm. where 2 men were trapped under a small building out in a field.
When Rescue 51 arrived on scene rescuers found that a small building (Deer Hunting Blind) had fallen off the loading forks from the front of a tractor onto two men. Apparently the men were mowing the blind to another location by the tractor, when the strap came loose. They then got on each side of the blind trying to get it secured when the blind then fell over on them.
A local neighbor had brought another tractor to help lift the blind off the men while rescuers pulled them to safety. Union County EMS pronounced one of the patients dead on the scene and the other was loaded onto Lifestar Air Helicopter and transported to UT Hospital for serious leg injuries and unknown internal injuries at the time.
Union County Rescue Squad and Northeast Union VFD also had units respond to assist at the scene. Union County Sheriff’s Department investigated the accident.
Note : The victims were later found to be Wayne Ellison and Mike Hale both of Sharps Chapel and both serving as Board of Directors of the Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Chris Upton said he and the entire department would like to ask everyone to send their thoughts and prayers to Wayne Ellison’s Family. Wayne was killed in the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are also with Mike Hale and his family, as he was later released from the hospital with a leg injury, We wish him a fast recovery.