One man was taken by Eagle Med Helicopter to a Wichita hospital Thursday evening after he crashed his pickup through some trees with his vehicle ending up on its drivers side on the edge of the Little Arkansas River, just east of Medora. The man was then reportedly trapped, but was able to converse with medical and fire personnel and they were able to free him.

The driver was 36-year-old Troy Smith of Buhler. He was driving a white 1998 GMC 1500 pickup truck. It appears that Smith was traveling westbound and was going to fast to navigate the curve. Smith left the roadway on the south side while still east of Mayfield Rd. It appears he vaulted over Mayfield Rd. into a tree row. Smith’s vehicle traveled approx. 92-feet into the trees and slid down the bank of the Little Arkansas River. The vehicle then became lodged in a tree just above the water. Smith had minor injuries to his head and legs, he was conscience and talking but could not get out of the vehicle. He had to be removed from the vehicle by Fire Department personnel. He was flown by Eagle-Med Helicopter to Wesley Medical Center.

He reportedly was able to call 911 himself, but emergency crews had trouble locating the vehicle initially because of the dense trees and other vegetation growing in that area.

Sheriff officials blocked 82nd, which is the black top between Mayfield Road and Buhler so that an Eagle-Med helicopter could land on the county black-top.

Closer look, with the picture on the left. The picture on the right shows where he went off the road and into the trees and to the Little Arkansas River.  For you old timers, this would be very close to where the Buhler Swing once was.