Former Councilman Joe Wilson hurt in crash Loose Trailer

Former Councilman Joe Wilson hurt in crash Loose Trailer

Former Councilman Joe Wilson hurt in crash

May 27, 2008 12:00 am

BY EMILY BATTLE

Former City Councilman Joe Wilson was taken to Mary Washington Hospital this morning after a landscaping trailer collided with his car while he was driving on William Street.

Wilson’s injuries were said to be non-life-threatening by city police.

He was reportedly able to talk to rescue workers at the scene and never lost consciousness. The most significant injuries were to one of his hands.

Wilson, who is also chairman of the board of trustees of MediCorp Health System, parent company of the hospital, was driving a 4-door Hyundai up the hill toward William’s intersection with College Avenue when the accident occurred just before 9 a.m.

According to Fredericksburg Police, a Ford pickup pulling a medium-duty utility trailer loaded with sod was heading in the other direction on William Street.

The trailer came loose from the truck near the intersection. The trailer crossed into oncoming traffic and hit Wilson’s car head-on.

The mechanism that connected the trailer to the truck went through Wilson’s windshield, and the trailer body ended up on the hood of his car.

The driver of the truck, William Tibbs, 24, of Spotsylvania County, was charged with having an expired inspection for the trailer, having defective brakes on the trailer, having defective equipment and not wearing a seatbelt.

Tibbs was driving the truck for Commonwealth Irrigation and Landscape, the Spotsylvania County company that owns the truck and trailer.

The accident shut down William Street in both directions while Wilson was extracted from his car and taken to the hospital. The road has since reopened.

Wilson owns PermaTreat Pest Control and serves on Fredericksburg’s Economic Development Authority.

Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
ebattle@freelancestar.com