This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County's only free online newspaper!
Photo courtesy of Brandy Hatchett.
By Editor Becky Watts
CONCORD - On the evening of October 20, 2016, Austin Hatchett was traveling on Highway 18 near Madden Road when a deer jumped out in front of the Ford F-150 that he was driving. He swerved to miss the deer and wrecked his truck, but it’s the rest of his story that is nothing short of amazing!
Austin swerved to avoid the deer that ran into his path of travel, and his truck left the roadway and turned over. The picture of the truck tells that story including the emergency call out to emergency personnel and Grady Ambulance.
While emergency personnel were on the way, a man, who had come up on the wreck right after it occurred, crawled into the back of Austin’s truck window to be with him and keep him calm after the wreck. Austin’s mother Brandy said that the man held Austin's hand and talked to him the whole time as he was coming in and out of consciousness. Austin’s parents called him an angel and thanked him for being there for their son.
Because emergency personnel did not know the extent of Austin’s injuries, the truck was stabilized and he was extricated from the truck using the Jaws of Life. Air Life Georgia then transported Austin to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Austin’s parents, Todd and Brandy Hatchett, posted a thank you and praise for Austin’s safety on social media. Pike County Times obtained permission to tell Austin’s story.
Todd and Brandy said thank you to everyone who was there at the accident including the police, firefighters, EMT/paramedics and the flight crew. They also gave a special thank you to the Good Samaritan who stayed with Austin and called to check on him the day after the wreck.
They left the hospital early in the morning after Austin was checked out by the staff at Grady Hospital. He had no broken bones and not a single scratch!
“God is so good!!! We are so blessed! I know God was with him and had him the whole time! I am one happy and blessed momma,” said Brandy. “Looking at this picture there is no way to explain how he made it through this with only a headache.....it's God and only OUR GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!”