Ann Arbor firefighters rescue man pinned under van door
The owner of Kolossos Printing is in serious condition this afternoon after being pinned to the ground under the driver's side door of a van in a loading dock area at the company's location on West Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor.
Firefighters responded at 1:06 p.m. and used air bags to lift the van an estimated 4 to 8 inches off the ground and free the man who company employee Matt Tubbs identified as Kolossos owner and founder Nick Arhangelos.
Officer William Clock, right, investigates an accident involving Kolossos Printing owner Nick Arhangelos, who was pinned underneath a van door this afternoon outside of the Kolossos location on West Stadium.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Edman estimates Arhangelos was pinned under the door for 15 minutes. Arhangelos is believed to have exited the driver's side door before being knocked to the ground, Edman said.
Edman said the door caught on Arhangelos' abdominal area.
Ann Arbor police continue to investigate what led up to the accident, Sgt. Andrew Zazula said.
Ramsey Bishar, owner of Big George's Home Appliance Mart, said he's known Arhangelos for 10 years and hopes he makes a speedy recovery.
"He's a strong guy," Bishar said. "He has a great heart."
Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
440RC
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:14 a.m.
I was held over an hour today %$#^!!, as if 40 hrs a week of private sector employment isn't enough, thats a whopping 2,080 hrs a year I'm away from home. Could be worse I guess.......24 hr days, 53 hr week, 2,756 hrs a year (information taken from a Twp. Labor Agreement) and then be compared to a "private sector employee" and forced to pay health care just like EVERY ONE ELSE! By the way-Thanks for not calling EVERY ONE ELSE to this incident, not sure if private sector training includes life saving techniques. If I ever do get a fire fighter job, at say $41,000 to start, thats an hourly wage of $14.88 (based on 2,756 yearly hrs). Or maybe a new 40 hr a week job at the same starting salary, which gets me $19.71 an hour (based on 2,080 yearly hrs). Maybe I should consider Over Time; any thing after 40 hrs a week (I think it's a labor law?) or as a FULL-TIME Fire fighter (does not read Union) only after 53 hrs a week (see FLSA). Can't compare health care or retirement, (we see where that is headed), job duties (yeah right).............I know, Gov. Snyder need any help?
gofigure
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
re 440rc: fire fighter job, at say $41,000 to start, that's an hourly wage of $14.88 Not sure what you do but I bet it's nothing compared to the Fire Fighters (according to your math) earning $14.88 for fighting fires.... Thanks for pointing that out. I think they deserve a raise.
440RC
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
No fire, no negative comments? AAFD did not save $millions (see recent fire on Main St, and many more, yes- UofM plenty of your $ too) so no harsh words? Maybe saving a mans life has a humbling effect....Oh, I don't know. Great Job Ann Arbor! Nice Work! So Glad You Were There! Especially glad E 3 was OPEN TODAY as they arrived first and fast. So glad that the R 1 (downtown) crew was NOT ON THE TOWER- so that the Air Bags made the scene. Also glad that the staff at L 5 HAVE Technical Rescue Training (no, not all FF's have it, should-but don't. That expense was cut long ago) and were able to assist. Luckily you were ABLE to request E 4 which I imagine brought additional stabilization equipment (and fire fighters, oh-uh, bad word in this neighbor hood) so the van didn't fall back down during the lift. Considered links to things like crush injuries and compartment syndrome, but the average .com commentor is obviousley well versed on EVERYTHING, so not neccesary. Could link to high pressure lifting bags, cribbing, advanced stabilization, or even the golden hour (from time of injury) in which AAFD (and HVA) HAD to get this man to an OR (if surgery is applicable here, which is probable, see abdominal injuries) but you all know those LITTLE things already. BAD things happen to GOOD people. Really. That is why AAFF's do what they do, and do it well. Thank you for that!
keri
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 1:50 a.m.
I just spoke with Nick this morning when he came to deliver a print job. My thoughts are with Kathy and the whole Kolossos family.
marlean leach
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.
OMG!!! I've hung-out my truck door several times and worried about falling out, but sometimes you just have to do dumb things. GET WELL SOON, NICK. ,sounds like you've got a good support group waiting for you.
peterplywood
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 10:07 p.m.
Hoping you will be ok Nick and a speedy recovory, you are one of the best.
ThaKillaBee
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
My sympathies are with the man and I hope for a speedy recovery. However I do wonder if there's any chance of clarification--was he pinned BY the door, or was the door just used as a description to say he was "under" it? If he was just "under" the door, what was actually pinning him to the ground?