Sinkhole accident shines light on ACFD; Unusual accident featured on ‘Today’

September 30, 2009

By Leslie N. Dees The Star Herald Wed Sep 30, 2009, 09:10 AM CDT

With a combined total of 34 years experience in helping others, Attala County Fire Chief Roy Williams and Capt. Larry Goza said they have never witnessed an accident like the one on Attala County Road 5008 Friday, Sept. 25.

“It’s definitely something you don’t see everyday,” Williams said.

According to Williams, Brenda Johnson was traveling to her job at Ella’s Country Store in McCool when she fell into a sinkhole around 6:30 in the morning.

Williams said her daughter, Lacee Holman was contacted when Johnson didn’t show up for work.

So naturally, Holman went out looking for her mother.

Williams said Holman travelled in nearly the exact same path as her mother and landed her automobile right on top of her mother’s car.

“We’ve never dealt with anything like this before,” Williams said.

Goza said when he arrived at the scene, he had to stop and look for just a minute.

Then, it was time for action.

“I was really expecting a really bad situation,” Goza said. “Luckily, it wasn’t. The good Lord was smiling down on them.”

The firemen and other personnel didn’t move Holman’s car before getting Johnson out of her vehicle for safety reasons.

Williams said Johnson had a broken leg and was taken to a Jackson hospital.

Friday night, the story was picked up by national media.

Goza said he never dreamed the accident would be featured on NBC’s “Today Show” Saturday.

Williams, Goza and Holman were interviewed and featured on the show.

Where the road caved in is in Choctaw County and repair will be made by them. Calls to the Choctaw County Supervisor Thomas Higgins were not returned by presstime.

Others working the scene of the accident were Attala County Fire Department, Med-Stat, McCool Volunteer Fire Department, Ethel Volunteer Fire Department and Choctaw County.

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