One Overturned on 16th Street

by Matt Jorge
On the evening of June 10th, Rescue Squad 742B was dispatched to the 8500 block of 16th Street for a collision with a report of entrapment.  Once on the scene, RS742B found a single vehicle overturned in the woods with at least one patient severely pinned.  The two door vehicle came to rest lying on its roof, located on top of an elevated manhole cover.  Due to severe passenger compartment impingement, it was not immediately evident if there were additional patients in the vehicle.  C742 assumed command and C742C was assigned extrication division.

RS742B immediately began to stabilize the vehicle with adjustable chains attached to the underbody of the car and anchored to a wooden utility pole.  Stepchocks were also used to provide additional stabilization.  T716 and E719 removed tree branches to gain access to the vehicle.  RS742B then utilized hydraulic rescue tools to completely remove the passenger door.  The roof had completely crushed the passenger seat, which impeded access to the driver.  The seat was cut and forced away using the hydraulic rescue tools.  This allowed access to the driver, who was in cardiopulmonary arrest and unable to be brought back to life.  The hydraulic rescue tools were then utilized to gain access to the back seat of the vehicle to check for additional occupants.  No additional victims were located.  The scene was then turned over to MCP for accident reconstruction.  In total, the crew of RS742B was able to stabilize the vehicle and gain access to the patient less than 12 minutes after arriving in the scene.

C742: Chief Allan Platky

C742C: Deputy Chief Jacob DeGlopper

RS742B Crew: Lt. Adam St. John, FFIII Karla Martinez, FFIII Daniel Goltz, FFII Ruphin Nguelie, FFII Mark Reddish.