Climber critical after ropes fall

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Climber critical after ropes fall

A man who fell from a ropes course in Hixson and hung by an ankle for two days remains in very critical condition at Erlanger hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday.

Melvin Davis, 57, was found Thursday on the course at 5051 Gann Store Road, police said. Davis had gone climbing on Tuesday when he fell and became tangled in the ropes, police said.

He injured his leg, face, arm and back, police said.

Family members are with him at the hospital, Erlanger spokeswoman Pat Charles said.

In car, accidental gunshot hits man

A man was accidentally shot about 8 p.m. Friday, said Chattanooga police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.

The man, a woman and a child were driving north on state Highway 153 when a loaded gun in the back went off, sending a .45-caliber bullet into the man's back, Weary said.

The woman drove the man to Memorial Hospital, and, as of 10:30 p.m. Friday, the injuries were ruled nonlife-threatening, Weary said.

The man underwent surgery late Friday, but his condition was not available.

Grease fire injures youngster

A juvenile was cooking in his Hixson home Friday when a grease fire broke out, injuring him and damaging the kitchen, officials said.

The child was attempting to put the fire out when the grease splashed on him, leaving him with second-degree burns to his arms and neck, but he did not need hospitalization, Hamilton County EMS spokeswoman Amy Maxwell said. The flaming grease set the kitchen cabinets on fire, she said.

Firefighters from the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department were able to arrive quickly at the home at 6948 Love Lane and put out the fire, containing it to the kitchen according to Dallas Bay Fire Chief Marcus Fritts.

Man, 78, accused of sexual battery

A 78-year-old Georgetown man faces a charge of sexual battery after he was indicted on charges of groping a mentally incapacitated 30-year-old woman, according to authorities.

John W. Howard was indicted by the Hamilton County grand jury after charges were filed last month. He was arrested Tuesday.

His next court date is set for Sept. 16 before Judge Rebecca Stern.

County hosts Touch-a-Truck

Children will be able to climb inside big rigs, 18-wheelers, fire trucks, boats and ambulances today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parking lot along the Riverwalk next to C.B. Robinson Bridge.

Hamilton County is hosting the free event and providing some of the vehicles, along with Chattanooga.

THP checkpoints coming to county

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will set up driver's license checkpoints in Hamilton County from Sept. 18-24.

According to a THP news release, the checkpoints are intended to keep unqualified and unlicensed drivers from getting behind the wheel.