William D. Ellis, who was driving a 1991 GMC gravel truck, was traveling north on Humphrey Highway toward Greenwood when a white 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe pulling a trailer pulled out in front of him. The Tahoe, owned by J.J. Ferguson, was driven by Rickey Common, 31, of Tchula, and his passenger was Jim Brown of Greenwood. Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Carver said Ferguson had been doing some work on Humphrey Highway and the southbound lane of traffic was closed. When the Tahoe pulled out in front of Ellis onto the northbound lane, Carver said, there was nothing Ellis could do to miss him. When Ellis hit the back of the trailer being pulled by the Tahoe, it caused the trailer and his gravel truck to turn sideways and slide into and damage a crane truck, driven by Otis L. Hill of Cleveland, and a gravel truck, driven by James L. Tackett of Carrollton, that were stopped by a flagman in the southbound lane of traffic. Ellis was the only person injured in the accident, Carver said. The Greenwood Fire Department responded to the accident and had to use the Jaws of Life to extract Ellis from his vehicle, according to Carver. Ellis was transported by MedStat to Greenwood Leflore Hospital, where he remained in stable condition Saturday night with a broken right leg, Carver said.
