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.

• 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.

Lessons Learned Continued

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.

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