A Rochester man who survived a head-on collision with another vehicle in February had only two words for the Oxford Fire Department ? ‘Thank you.?
‘I don’t believe I would be in the condition I am today if (the firefighters) hadn’t been as efficient as they were,? said accident survivor Luke Fleer, who stopped by Station #1 Monday evening to personally thank the men he credits with helping save his life.
Fleer, 23, was involved in a Feb. 4 head-on collision on M-24, just south of Teelin Road in Oxford Township. He was heading south in a southbound lane when another vehicle, driven by an 18-year-old Wisconsin man, travelling north in the same lane collided with his 1998 Honda Civic.
Trapped inside his vehicle, it took Oxford firefighters approximately 30 minutes to extricate Fleer. He was then air-lifted by U-M Survival Flight to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital.
Fleer told this reporter the impact from the crash cracked the internal ring of his pelvis in three places and caused severe injuries to his left leg.
After enduring three surgeries on his leg, one on his knee and two months worth of bed-rest, Fleer is now up and around with the aid of a cane and a titanium rod in his left leg.
Doctors expect him to make a ‘full recovery,? he said.
The young man had nothing but praise for the Oxford firefighters he credits with making that full recovery possible.
‘They were efficient. They were professional. They brought me comfort. They got the job done,? he said.
‘They reassured me that I was going to be alright and I believed them,? Fleer said. ‘I want to thank them for helping me in a time of need. I believe they helped save my life.?
The extrication tools used to free Fleer are part of the Heavy Duty Rescue truck purchased through the fire bond voters approved in Nov. 2000.
Fire Chief Jack LeRoy told Fleer some Oxford officials had previously questioned the need for such a truck, but he explained to them why it was a necessity and how it would be worth the price in the long run, even if it only saved one life.
It appears Luke Fleer was that life.