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Portal man injured in four-wheeler accident
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    A Portal man lost part of his leg and underwent hip replacement surgery Sunday after a four-wheeler accident in Metter Saturday afternoon.
    Christopher Michael O'Toole, 18, R.V. Shelby Lane,  Portal, remains in serious but stable condition, Metter Police Sr. Patrol Officer Ryan Oliver said  Monday. O'Toole was a passenger on the four-wheeler.
    Oliver said James Robert Martin, 18, Pulaski Highway, is charged with underage possession of alcohol, failure to yield, driving with a suspended license, second offense DUI under 21, and obstruction. He originally told police O'Toole had been driving the four-wheeler.
    Martin was driving north on Portal-Metter Highway just inside the Metter city limits around 4 p.m. Saturday, on the east side of the road, in a ditch, Oliver said.
    He cut across the highway on a hill near Elmer Street, heading west, pulling directly into the path of a tan Buick Century driven by Portal resident Brock Chavers, 25, he said.
    "Chavers never had a chance to slow down" before striking the four-wheeler, as he was upon it as soon as he topped the hill. Chavers is not charged in the accident.
    Martin was not seriously injured, but O'Toole suffered trauma to his leg and hip area, and part of his leg had to be amputated, Oliver said. He was taken by EMS to the Candler County Airport, then he was airlifted by Life Star helicopter to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, he said.
    Family members told Oliver Sunday O'Toole was undergoing hip replacement surgery as well.
    Martin was taken to  the Candler County Jail where he later posted bond, according to jail records.
  
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