A truck driver had to be airlifted after an accident on U.S.119 severed his leg.] Wednesday near Sidney, Ky.

Wright Construction driver James Ernie Thomas, of Dorton, was traveling north on the four lane when a Snyders Transport truck, driven by Roosevelt Rhodes of Huntsville, Ala., was making a u-turn on the highway from the southbound direction. The rear of the Snyder tractor trailer was still in the northbound lanes of U.S. 119, a press release stated. Thomas swerved to avoid the truck, overturned and was ejected from the concrete truck.

The truck landed on the top of Thomas, crushing one leg and severing another.

Thomas was flown by Med Flight to Holston Valley Hospital in Tennessee.

Rick Green, Big Creek Volunteer Fire Department chief, stated that Holston Valley Hospital specializes in reattaching limbs and that the leg was air-lifted with Thomas.

“This was one of the worst accidents I have ever seen,” stated Green. “He was very much alive and a very brave man, he had just returned from a tour in Iraq with the Army.”

In addition to Big Creek Fire Department, Belfry Fire Department, Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Department of Transportation responded to the scene.