LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) –
The family of a Longview sanitation worker, who lost his leg after a car collided with his garbage truck speaks out.
The family of a Longview sanitation worker, who lost his leg after a car collided with his garbage truck, is speaking about his ordeal.
Last week, 33-year-old Dennis Montgomery was pinned between his garbage truck and a car that hit the truck from behind. His injuries forced doctors to amputate one of his legs.
Now, his family is sharing his remarkable will to survive. Montgomery is trying to make the long road back to recovery. His family says the fact that he survived is nothing short of a miracle.
“I was stunned,” says one family member.
“All I know is that he’s my son, and I was hoping and praying he’d make it. It had to be God, otherwise my son wouldn’t have made it,” says Montgomery’s mother, Michelle Montgomery.
There was nowhere for Montgomery to go in the accident on Alpine Road. As he was at the back of a sanitation truck doing his job, he was hit by the oncoming car pinning him between the truck and the car.
His left leg was shattered. His right so badly damaged that it had to be amputated.
“I had to give permission to get his right leg amputated and that’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life,” Michelle says.
For his family it’s been hard to see the effects, but his upbeat spirit has surprised them all.
“He kept a positive spirit kept looking at the positive part and said how thankful that he’s still alive,” says uncle Thomas Jones.
“He’s ready to get prosthetics. He’s talking and he’s ready to eat. He says he wants some ribs,” says Michelle.
“He’s got a real good attitude it didn’t get him down, he was down for a minute when we told him about his leg, and he said I’m going to get through this,” Jones says.
The driver in the case has not been charged.
“I’ve been kind of angry because of the person that did it. I know he has a long road to recovery , but I know that Dennis is going to do it and I’m with him every step of the way,” Michelle says.
Longview police identified the driver as Susan Skinner.
On the day of the wreck, police recovered open beer containers and a pipe used so smoke methamphetamine from Skinner’s car.
They are waiting for Skinner’s toxicology results.
Dennis Montgomery is expected to eventually be moved to a hospital in Houston to begin rehabilitation.
A fund has been set up to help Montgomery and his family with expenses. You can make a donation to the account titled ‘Dennis Montgomery’ at any Texas Bank and Trust location.
http://www.ksla.com/story/25980938/family-of-longview-sanitation-worker-speaks-out-after-wreck