Friday, July 1, 2005

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Man found safe after fall into ditch

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City police and other concerned citizens are breathing a sigh of relief now that an elderly man who left the Ashley Glen Assisted Living Center for a walk and fell about seven feet down into a ditch has been found safe and sound.

Peachtree City police responded to the living center at 441 Prime Point about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday after William F. Hamilton had been reported missing. Hamilton left the center about 4 p.m. that day to take a walk.

When he did not return, the staff at Ashley Glen contacted his daughter, Cynthia Hightower of Fayetteville. Hightower and staff at the living center searched for Hamilton, but were unsuccessful, police said.

“At approximately 2130 hours, the Peachtree City Police Department was notified and began looking for Mr. Hamilton,” Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray said in a prepared statement. “Additional officers were brought in and a ground search was initiated around Ashley Glen and surrounding areas. At 0730 hours Wednesday morning, Mr. Roger Wiley, Senior Superintendent with Group VI Construction observed Mr. Hamilton crawling out of a ditch at a construction site a short distance from Ashley Glen.”

Police and rescue crews were dispatched to the scene. Hamilton was checked out and found to be bruised and shaken, but conscious and alert.

“He told authorities that he was walking back to Ashley Glen after taking his afternoon walk when he attempted to cross a creek by walking on a tree limb that was across the creek,” Murray said. “He stated the limb broke and he fell approximately seven feet into a ditch. He was unable to climb out of the ditch until several hours later.”

Peachtree City paramedics transported Hamilton to Piedmont Fayette Hospital for treatment.