A Hanford man was injured in a vehicle accident on Memorial Day in Mariposa County when he attempted to drive an ATV down the face of a pond dam while carrying a load of construction materials in the back. Eddie Lee Hamlin, 45, was reportedly driving off-road through private property in Mariposa shortly after 8:30 p.m. when he started to drive down the face of the pond dam.

The heavy load in the back of the 2006 Polaris Ranger ATV caused the vehicle's front axle to imbed itself deep within the ground while attempting to navigate the slope, which caused the vehicle to flip over and eject Hamlin.

The ATV apparently came to rest on top of Hamlin, crushing him under the left side roll cage.

A passenger on the vehicle, Timothy Ernst Zack, 35, was uninjured in the crash and proceeded to lift the ATV off the injured man with the help of a nearby family.

Zack, a Fresno man, reportedly resuscitated Hamlin by performing CPR on him.

Hamlin was transported to John C. Fremont Hospital in Mariposa and later Doctors Hospital in Modesto for treatment. California Highway Patrol officials listed his injuries as "major" as of early this morning.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(May 27, 2008)