An Alexandria man had a close call last Friday afternoon, after the tractor he was operating rolled down an embankment on New Hope Road.

Neighbors say Jackie Johnson had been mowing the overgrown shoulders on New Hope Road in order for the local residents to see better. As he was mowing, the front tire of his tractor fell into a wash on the side of the roadway, obscured by the tall weeds. The tractor pivoted and then rolled off a 20-foot embankment.

Deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, the DeKalb Fire Department, local first responders, DeKalb Rescue, and DeKalb EMS rushed to the scene. Luckily for Johnson, his tractor was equipped with a cab, which kept him from being thrown from the tractor with the equipment rolling over him.

Fire crews had to work to free Johnson from the cab, then, with help from local residents, ropes were used to pull Johnson back up to the roadway. Johnson was transported to the hospital by DeKalb EMS, but was later released with only minor injuries.