3 crashes send 5 to hospitals

Rescue workers had to use a hydraulic extrication device to remove a 43-year-old woman from this Mazda after a crash on Old Georgia Highway. The Gaffney Police Department, firefighters and paramedics had a busy Monday afternoon responding to three separate wrecks that sent five people to the hospital and likely totaled six vehicles.

Their afternoon began on Overbrook Drive when two vehicles were involved in a head-on crash near Chaucer Drive.

Police said that accident occurred when a 2006 Chevrolet van driven by 63-year-old Darrell Brigman of Kannapolis, N.C., failed to yield while making a left turn from Overbrook Drive on Chaucer Drive and collided head-on with a 1992 Chevrolet Truck driven by Johnny Darrell Revels Jr. of Chesnee who was headed in the opposite direction on Overbrook Drive.

Less than two hours later, firefighters were using hydraulic tools to cut apart a 1992 Mazda sedan on Old Georgia Highway so they could get a 43-year-old Lakeshore Drive woman out of the badly mangled vehicle.

According to a police report, Alba Yolanda Alduede was driving east on Rodgers Street when she pulled out and turned left onto Old Georgia Highway. Police determined Alduede disregarded a stop sign and failed to yield when turning onto the highway directly in the path of an oncoming 1993 GMC work truck driven by Mark Edward Addy.

The front of the truck impacted with the side of Alduede's car, causing major damage to both vehicles. Alduede, who was later transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, had to be extricated from her vehicle by firefighters due to her injuries and the extensive damage to the vehicle.

A mere three hours later, police and firefighters were dispatched to East Jefferies Street, where a 1985 GMC pickup crashed into the rear of a parked car.

Two people were riding in the bed of the pickup when the accident occurred and both were transported for treatment.

According to a police report, the driver of the truck was identified as Carl Francis Burden, 27, of Pacolet Highway. His truck sustained significant front end damage estimated at about $2,000.

Police said he struck a 1996 Chevrolet sedan owned by an East Jefferies Street woman.

The two passengers in the bed of the pickup, a 15- year-old East Jefferies Street girl and a 17-year-old Pacolet Highway boy were sent to Upstate Carolina Medical Center for treatment.

The three accidents were investigated by Gaffney Police Officers Jamie Kennington and Sam Scruggs.