Motor Vehicle Accident Hwy65 & Hwy66
Evansville Fire 1A6
Monday morning, June 20th at approximately 6:55am Battalion Chief Larry Chapman of the Evansville Fire Department was driving to work. He was in his Chiefs car when he proceeded through the intersection with the green light. Another vehicle heading west ran the red light and hit Chief Chapman at the drivers side.German Township volunteer firefighter Nathan Beach was first on the scene as he was 3 cars back of Chief Chapman and witnessed the entire incident.Firefighter Beach immediately began rendering aid to the Chief.Additional, firefighters from German Township arrived in 4 minutes and after a rapid extrication removed the door from the car and transported him to Deaconess Hospital via AMR ambulance.Chief Chapman remains in Deaconess Hospital with multiple fractures of multiple ribs, two hip fractures, numerous abrasions and bruises. He will undergo intense physical therapy on his road to recovery. He will be on the road for a very long time and with the help of God and many of his friends he will fully recover.
August 1, 2005- Chief Chapman is back home recuperating. He has had a hard time and still has a lot of therapy to go through before he can resume his duties. Hope to see you going back and forth on Hwy 65 soon, Larry!!
Update August 12, 2005
Fire Chief John Buckman
German Township Fire Department
Dear Chief Buckman
Just a note to let you and your Department know how much I appreciate the care given to me after being involved in an auto accident at 65 & 66 on the morning of June 20, 2005.
I know, from what the Doctors tell me, that I am very lucky to be alive. One Doctor said to me “You really dodged the bullet, NO, you dodged the atom bomb on this one”
I also know that I owe many thanks to the German FD Firefighters that extricated, treated, and attended to me after the accident. Your Firefighters must have done everything right. There were several EFD Firefighters on scene that told me German FD Firefighters did an excellent job in my extrication and medical care.
I am recovering very well (not fast enough, of course) and the Doctors expect a full recovery. I will probably have another surgery or two ahead of me, but that should be a piece of cake in comparison to what I have already made it through.
There is one positive aspect to this accident. I have lost about 35 pounds. I am thinking of publishing a book on my weight loss program titled “The Chapman Crash Diet”. I really don’t expect it to be a best seller.
Seriously, please pass along my (and my family’s) many thanks and gratitude to those that took care of me.
Sincerely,
Larry Chapman
6120 Plainview Drive
Evansville, IN 47720
