Yellowhammer Times

The tornado warning arrived in Alexander City, Alabama at 1:25 pm CT.56-year-old cattle farmer Greg Jones saw sun, clouds, sprinkles of rain.Little did he know that within moments, he would escape death.Little did he know that he would soon help save the life of an Alabama state trooper.

This is the story of The Miracle On Elkahatchee Road.

Greg Jones loves his 2008 white Dodge pick-up truck.His father gifted him the truck in 2020- with only 71,000 miles on the odometer, the truck is a trusted friend.It was Thursday afternoon about 1:45 when Greg drove down Elkahatchee Road in Alex City.The wind seemed to be picking up.

Greg Jones has never been afraid to get his hands dirty.He loves farming, and his cows, horses and pigs bring him joy.Greg’s sons Josh and Ryan are always nearby, ready to help.Just like they helped Greg on Elkahatchee Road.

Greg Jones slowed down as he approached Cedar Creek Road.The sound from outside sounded different, eerie, in fact.An Alabama state trooper passed by- Greg looked in his rear view mirror.State Trooper Jake Smith pulled a U-turn, as he heard the sound, too.

It happened so quickly.The huge tree smashed on top of the roof of Trooper Smith’s cruiser, smashing him down into his seat.Shattered glass everywhere.Within seconds, it was Greg Jones’ turn.

Four trees, five trees, perhaps more.Greg Jones the country boy cried out as the sharp pain in his back burned like a hot iron.His beloved Dodge pick-up truck was a loss.His life nearly was, too.

Through the glass shards, Greg Jones crawled out of his truck through the back window.Greg could barely stand, as the pain was unbearable.But when Greg Jones glanced to his right and saw a state trooper car smashed like and accordion?The cattle farmer knew exactly what to do.

“I tried to pull the cruiser’s door open, but it was stuck,” Greg told me Friday from his UAB Hospital bed.“I prayed and took a deep breath, placing my feet on the police cruiser.”“I pulled as hard as I could, but I was in so much pain.”“Finally, I pulled the trooper out of his car.”

It was moments later when Josh and Ryan Jones pulled up near the scene- they happened to be driving on Elkahatchee Road, too.“It was a mess " Josh tells me. “It took us 20 minutes to navigate through debris to reach my dad.”“Both dad and Trooper Smith were taken to Russell Medical Center in Alexander City,” says Josh.Late last night, Greg was transferred to UAB Hospital with a broken back- his 11th and 12th vertebrae shot.

And now for the rest of the story.Just prior to Greg’s departure to Birmingham, the cattle farmer looked up to see two people walk into his Alex City hospital room.Standing before him were Trooper Jake Smith and his wife Megan.“Trooper Smith suffered some minor injuries, but he still wanted to check on me and thank me for helping him,” Greg tells me.

Greg Jones is going through some tests today in Birmingham before UAB doctors determine his future care- he texted me a "thumbs up" picture from his hospital bed.In the meantime, Greg wants us to know that he considers it a miracle that he and Trooper Smith are alive.“I am a person of faith,” says Greg. “We both could have been killed, but the Lord was looking out for both of us.”“I have thanked Him many times since yesterday.”

Greg Jones is hoping for a bright 2023.He’s very sad that his trusty Dodge pick-up truck is a total loss.“You can consider me riderless,” Greg says.“I don’t have the money to buy a new truck, but I’ll try to do my best to save money.”

The cattle farmer is hoping his back can be repaired so he can get back to work.Until then, he’s thrilled that Trooper Smith is OK, and he’s thankful that two lives were spared on a Thursday afternoon.

Two lives spared, thanks to teamwork and faith.

Two lives spared after what is an unforgettable story that can now be told:

The Miracle On Elkahatchee Road.

*Pictures courtesy Greg, Josh and Ryan Jones, Kory Kizziah & Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

Original source can be found here.