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Charlottesville, VA I-64 Semi overturned on passenger car November 2005. The Incident. Call received @ 1238 Hrs Semi overturned on 4 door sedan. Vehicle crushed to height of < 36”. 3 alert occupants, encased in passenger compartment between 12” & 18” high. Incident Oberservations.
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Charlottesville, VA I-64 Semi overturned on passenger car November 2005
The Incident • Call received @ 1238 Hrs • Semi overturned on 4 door sedan. • Vehicle crushed to height of < 36”. • 3 alert occupants, encased in passenger compartment between 12” & 18” high.
Incident Oberservations • The truck’s load of wood had spilled, making it impossible to see the car from one side. • Access to the car was limited • Weight of the semi-trailer, heavy wrecker needed. • IMS implementation a must to prevent bystanders initiating rescue efforts.
Positive Factors for Patients • The haul load spilled away from the car, reducing the weight of the trailer on the compressed vehicle. • The car came to rest in a swale over a drainage culvert (center of median), giving the vehicle additional room vertically.
4 Phase Plan to Remove Trailer • Phase 1 • Stabilize the vehicles and prevent the trailer from further sinking onto the vehicle. • Used low-pressure air bags and cribbing to relieve the weight on the vehicle but not lift the trailer. • Airbag officer listed for creaking sounds during inflation which indicated that the trailer’s weight was transferred to the airbags, preventing further sinking of the trailer onto the vehicle.
4 Phase Plan Continued • Phase 2 • Position a heavy wrecker and lift the trailer from the rear. • Used saw to cut attachment points for cables in the rear trailer gate. • Operation went safe and quick since this strategy didn’t require personnel to place lift straps around the trailer. • Once cables in place, slowly lifted, monitored for load shift and frame deformity. • Continued until rescuers saw day light between car and trailer
4 Phase Plan Continued • Phase 3 • Used another wrecker to evenly winch the vehicle out from under the trailer. • Allowed rescuers to work in a safe area away from the trailer. • Lowered the trailer to the ground, kept suspended evenly on cables to prevent load shift. • EMT’s made sure the victims stayed in vehicle so they wouldn’t self-extricate.
4 Phase Plan Continued • Phase 4 • Remove the vehicle’s roof and extricate the patients. • Hydraulic & reciprocating saws – took longest time • 2 victims in front seat, 1 in back seat • Front survived by leaning over as the trailer landed • Sandwiched on floor boards between seats
Summary • Extrication completed in just under 1 hour. • 40 Personnel. • 4 Engine Companies. • 3 Heavy Rescue Squads. • 4 Medic Units. • 5 Command Vehicles. • 2 Wreckers.
Lessons Learned • Think Outside the Box • Primary complication was the trailer’s weight. • Lifting & moving the vehicle eliminated a significant hazard and transformed a difficult extrication into a single-vehicle extrication. • Previous training in large vehicle accidents and good relations with wrecker companies, EMS and MA departments.
Lessons Learned Continued • Train Often • Specialty extrication classes with integration of heavy wreckers and operators. • Use IMS • Crucial in preventing fire or rescue personnel or bystanders from initiating their own rescue plans. • Command establishes support branches to ensure all functions are addressed on scene.
Lessons Learned Continued • Address Communication Issues • Have common ground frequency, know which one to use for police, ems, etc • Language barrier with victims could be an issue. • Request Adequate Resources • Do thorough size-up • Call early, you may need them as incident changes.
Lessons Learned Continued • Work with other Groups • Establish relations with area heavy equipment companies • Ask their opinion when formulating tactics. • Work Together Everyday • Train with your mutual aid departments. • This interaction develops familiarity between the departments and agencies and will payoff when a major incident occurs.
Success!! • All 3 patients survived and were discharged from the hospital within 24 hrs of incident. • Specialty extrication class (heavy truck rescue) was clearly beneficial. • This incident reinforces the importance of training with all the resources, departments and personnel you will respond with on actual incidents. • Working together pays off for everyone involved.
