A Rydal woman was seriously injured and trapped in her vehicle for approximately 14 hours following a crash early Sunday morning that left her car hidden from view.
According to a report from the Georgia State Patrol, 72-year-old Deborah Ruth Pilcher was driving south on Folsom Road around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, when she lost control of her Hyundai Sonata while navigating a curve on the rain-slicked roadway. The vehicle veered off the east shoulder, struck a guardrail, entered a culvert while overturning, hit the side of the culvert and a group of trees, and came to a rest out of sight from the road.
Pilcher remained trapped in the wreckage until approximately 6:30 p.m., when Bartow County firefighter Lt. Matthew Atkins, who happened to be riding his bicycle in the area, spotted the vehicle. The car was not visible to passing motorists, but Atkins stopped to investigate and discovered Pilcher inside. He immediately called 911.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, and Pilcher was airlifted by LifeForce helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. She sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the trauma ICU. Family members have shared updates on social media, though her current condition and the full extent of her injuries remain unknown at this time.
