Well-known antiques dealer Richard “Smitty” Axtell never misses the New Hampshire Antiques Show, but unfortunately he cannot say that anymore. He suffered a very serious accident on Thursday, August 12, while attempting to take his wife Sandy’s electric chair from the back of his truck.

“It was a freak accident and I just went over backwards,” he said last week, resulting in two cracked ribs, an injured shoulder blade and staples in the back of his head.

The accident happened in the parking lot behind the Radisson Hotel, where the show is held, and both police and ambulance responded to the call. “I spent three days in the hospital and I must say people could not have been nicer. I guess that took some of the sting out of the accident,” he said.

With family help, both Smitty and his truck made it back home to Deposit at the end of the week and Sandy said, “He is uncomfortable, but is behaving himself.”

“I have signed up for Melvin ‘Butch’ Arion’s York Antiques Show on September 3‵, and plan to be there,” he said. And no doubt he will be there.