An Isuzu Trouper flipped over a steep embankment on a curve of Poplar Springs Road in Ronda.

The driver, Roby James Wilcox of Elkin, was pinned into his vehicle for over a half hour Monday night, while rescue crews worked to free him.

Ronda Fire Department and Wilkes County Rescue Squad responded to the accident around 9 p.m.

The Ronda Fire Department was holding its weekly fire meeting and was first at the scene of the accident. The section of Poplar Spring's Wilcox wrecked on is a curving, dark wooded area. Neighbors heard a crash and called authorities.

Ronda's Safety Officer, Zach Key, was the first to arrive. "I'll never forget this one. It was like a horror movie," Key said. "I slid down the embankment and he lifted a bloody hand against the window."

Key tried to set up for the crews following close behind him, clearing branches, setting up, and trying to open the SUV's door. "It took heavy rescue vehicles to get him out," Key said.

Spreader tools were used by the rescue squad to remove the roof and door of the vehicle and to winch the SUV back up the hill before he was freed.

Ronda firefighter Maria Soots said, "It looked like he just didn't make the turn and flipped over the embankment."

Trooper B.S. Stokes said that he thought speed was a factor in the crash. "It looked like he was running to fast around the corner, flipped and hit a line of trees." Stokes said.Wilcox sustained injuries in the crash and was taken by helicopter to Baptist Hospital. The fire department set up a landing zone at a field next to Macedonia Baptist Church where the helicopter landed a short distance from the accident. Wilcox was still at Baptist Hospital Tuesday night, his condition unlisted.