Machinery at Helena car wash severs worker's lower leg

HELENA (AP) — An employee at a car wash in Helena got caught in a piece of machinery that severed his lower leg, Helena fire officials said.

The accident happened just before 1 p.m. Tuesday at Woody's Car Wash, Assistant Chief of Operations Mike Chambers told the Independent Record.

Someone had applied a tourniquet by the time emergency responders arrived, "which was fortunate," Chambers said.

The 46-year-old man was taken to the hospital. No further information on his condition was available.

Co-owner Matt McCullough declined to talk about the accident to protect the employee's privacy.