ZANESVILLE - Local dentist Dr. Charles Hawkins was on his way home Wednesday evening when he drove upon a motorcycle crash on Ohio 60.
The driver was on the ground with serious injuries when Hawkins jumped out of his vehicle to assist, if he could. Two or three other people also came to the aid of the motorcyclist, Hawkins said.
"I got there after the accident happened," Hawkins said. "(The driver) was lying facedown and his leg had been severed."
Hawkins was wearing scrubs, and nobody around had a belt. His wife, who had been with Hawkins as he drove home, took the handle off of her handbag and Hawkins fashioned a tourniquet for the motorcycle rider, Ryan Hannahs, of Nashport.
Hawkins spoke to Hannahs until emergency crews arrived.
"He was in and out," Hawkins said. "But, yes, he was conscious. He was talking."
A representative at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where Hannahs was eventually taken, said Thursday he was in fair and stable condition.
Hannahs, 32, was riding a motorcycle when he went off the right side of the road and crashed into a sign, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Hitting the sign was what severed his legs, said Lt. Matt Boyd, with the patrol.
No other injuries were reported and no other vehicles were involved. The crash occurred at 6:42 p.m.
Hannahs was taken by ambulance to Genesis Hospital and then flown by MedFlight to Grant. The crash is still under investigation.
Hawkins said he didn't feel like a hero, and he was quick to point out other people had been there and assisted, too. He wasn't scared. He just wanted to help Hannahs.
"I just got focused on helping the young man," he said.
If he were ever in that situation, Hawkins said he would want someone to help him in the same way.
"God put me there to do it," he said.
ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com
740-450-6752
Twitter: @KL_Snyder
