COLUMBUS -- For the first time since the major summer storm hit Columbus last June, one of the victims talks with out sister station's Maria Durant about how it has changed his life forever.
As Roger Hinson recalls, "If I had been stopped in traffic two feet further forward it would have hit me square and killed me. I saw poles falling, I'm stopped in traffic with my foot on the brake and it took the foot right off."
Poles were snapping like toothpicks, toppling along Hamilton Road. Gusts of wind were moving over 70 mph. After a high voltage electrical pole came crashing down onto Hinson's van, Hinson realized he lost his foot.
Dozens of other people were also trapped in their vehicles that night.
With power lines still live, a determined Hinson used all of his strength to move himself into his back seat for safety.
"When I did, my right leg came into view and the foot and ankle were gone," Hinson said.
Once in the back seat, Hinson called his wife to help get through to 911, although medics were unable to reach Hinson.
Instead, he was saved by two Columbus police officers who risked their lives to navigate through the power lines, knowing if they touched one of the lines they could be electrocuted.
As Roger Hinson recalls, "If I had been stopped in traffic two feet further forward it would have hit me square and killed me. I saw poles falling, I'm stopped in traffic with my foot on the brake and it took the foot right off."
Poles were snapping like toothpicks, toppling along Hamilton Road. Gusts of wind were moving over 70 mph. After a high voltage electrical pole came crashing down onto Hinson's van, Hinson realized he lost his foot.
Dozens of other people were also trapped in their vehicles that night.
With power lines still live, a determined Hinson used all of his strength to move himself into his back seat for safety.
"When I did, my right leg came into view and the foot and ankle were gone," Hinson said.
Once in the back seat, Hinson called his wife to help get through to 911, although medics were unable to reach Hinson.
Instead, he was saved by two Columbus police officers who risked their lives to navigate through the power lines, knowing if they touched one of the lines they could be electrocuted.