Outside the Box
Often many extrication instructors setup some outside of the normal training scenarios where the students usually comment “that would never happen”. One of those happened in Texas. A tractor and trailer fell off overpass in Sugar Land, Texas and crushed the car below. The driver of the car was able to climb out of her vehicle with a little help from some bystanders.
From a training perspective, what would be your plan if the vehicle had occupants trapped? Do you know what heavy wrecker resources are available in your response area? Do you have the equipment to stabilize, lift, and/or remove the vehicle from under the trailer? Take some time to run a scenario thru your mind about what you would do.
Twitter exploded with rubberneckers posting pictures.
Exit Highway 90 or Highway 6 to avoid backup at 59 and University SB https://t.co/M7rnQlfX7U
— Elissa Rivas (@ElissaRivas13) January 11, 2018
Just amazing! No life-threatening injuries in the crash #SugarLand 59 SB at University, SB service road closed, updates 2night @abc13houston pic.twitter.com/AduG7n0w5i
— Elissa Rivas (@ElissaRivas13) January 11, 2018
NEW: Tractor-trailer drives off 59 Southwest Freeway overpass in Sugar Land, Texas; Injuries Unknown – KPRC pic.twitter.com/763IMV19cs
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 11, 2018
Overturned Tractor-Trailer Extrication
Check out the overturned Tractor-Trailer, confirmed entrapment, and power pole down that Elizabethtown Fire Dept Station 74 had earlier today.
Large Vehicle with Heavy Entrapment
The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team recently assisted Milan Area Firefighters with this complex extrication. Team members assisted Milan Firefighters and utilized HURST Jaws of Life and Paratech to extricate the heavily entrapped driver quickly.
Heavy Rescue
Large Animal Rescue
Working with their past experince, the Patterson Fire Department’s completed their 4th horse rescue in the past several years.
Horse Rescue
Per the post from the Patterson Fire Department’s Facebook page:
At 0732, 25th of August 2021, the Patterson fire department was dispatched for a public assist to a local farm. Patterson’s heavy rescue, 22-6-1, arrived on scene and found a 31-year-old male horse, named “Dozer”, in distress. He had apparently fallen and managed to get himself stuck between a rock and a fence line. At first, the crew attempted to assist the horse in getting up by shifting his position. It became apparent that additional equipment was going to be needed to help Dozer out since he had become too exhausted to get up on his own. After some discussion, it was established that the best plan of action was to use a Paratech bipod system. It would be used as an artificial high directional with TU-32 griphoist’s assistance to lift the horse up. With a lot of sweat and effort, the crew was able to lift the horse up onto his feet. After some much-needed fluids and rest, we were happy to see Dozer trot away, unassisted.
An interesting fact, this is Patterson Fire Department’s 4th horse rescue in the past several years, all with successful outcomes.
Photos below from Andrew Akin
