ASKEWVILLE – A Colerain man is listed in fair condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville after being pinned under his pick-up truck as the result of a single vehicle accident near here Saturday night.

James Lee Askew, 45, was airlifted by EastCare from the accident scene after the 1984 Ford Ranger he was operating on Meadow Road (RP 1312) overturned. He was pinned under the vehicle for approximately 45 minutes, according to Sgt. C.T. Griffin of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Sgt. Griffin reported that Askew, traveling alone, was operating the truck in the northbound lane of Meadow Road when the accident occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m.

Apparently, the truck ran off the right side of the roadway, striking a sign on the shoulder. It then traveled a distance down a ditch bank before re-entering the roadway. At that point, the truck skidded across the pavement, ran off the left side of the road, struck a ditch bank and overturned.

Griffin said that Askew was not wearing a seat belt.

Charges are pending.