firefighter uses Holmatro spreader at crash site

All posts tagged firefighter uses Holmatro spreader at crash site

Buffalo Grove (IL)  police and firefighters were called to the 1000 block of Deerfield Road on Easter Sunday (4/1/18) for a one-car crash with entrapment. An ambulance from the neighboring Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD was first on the scene while responding to an unrelated EMS assignment. The SUV struck a tree in the center median and sustained significant damage trapping the driver’s left leg. The extrication was completed after roughly an hour. The cold temperatures prompted the use of a portable heater to provide comfort for the patient. Units from Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Long Grove were working at the scene.

Firefighters free driver trapped in car

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters free driver trapped in car Stryker power load cot

Larry Shapiro photo

crash site after SUV hits tree in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

crash site after SUV hits tree in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

crash site after SUV hits tree in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

crash site after SUV hits tree in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters use Holmatro battery spreader at crash

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters use Holmatro rescue spreaders at crash

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters use Holmatro rescue spreaders at crash

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters free driver trapped in car

Larry Shapiro photo

crash site after SUV hits tree in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos are at Shapirophotography.net

Ten people were injured, one critically, in a high-speed, five-car collision on Interstate 95 near the 64 mile marker southbound in Colleton County SC, Monday afternoon 22-May at 13:41. All vehicles were traveling southbound when several collided causing a Nissan Altima to drive under the trailer of a tractor-trailer truck. The car became wedged under the trailer and the rear tandem wheels drove up over the car crushing the front seat passenger in the car.

car wedged under semi trailer after crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

car wedged under semi trailer after crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

The 45-year old Florida woman was conscious, but suffered multiple traumatic injuries. The wheels of the trailer where on top of her legs. A military medic stopped and treated the woman prior to Fire-Rescue arriving. The southbound lanes of I-95 were blocked due to the wreckage and debris. Heavy traffic backed up for several miles, hampering emergency units from reaching the accident. Once on scene, Fire-Rescue units began treating the injured and stabilizing the tractor trailer and Nissan.

The female patient was found to be heavily entrapped in the wreckage with little access. There was approximately three feet of intrusion into the passenger compartment. Firefighter-paramedics treated her in the car and used Holmatro rescue tools to remove the driver’s side doors and roof. Other crewmembers built a box crib under the rear axles of the trailer, then used small hydraulic jacks and Holmatro high-pressure air bags to lift the trailer approximately 18 inches off of the car. A winch on a fire department vehicle was used to pull the car from under the trailer.

firefighters use Holmatro rescue tools at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use cribbing to lift trailer from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro rescue tools at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

car wedged under semi trailer after crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

The patient remained trapped under the door and dash which was crushed down on her lower extremities. Crews rigged chains to the door and a nearby guard rail support, then used Holmatro spreaders to pull the door off of the patient. Another set of spreaders was used to displace the dash to free the patient. After 49 minutes, she was extricated with spinal precautions, then transported emergent to the trauma center at Trident Medical Center in Medic 26. No helicopters could fly due to poor weather conditions.

firefighters use Holmatro rescue tools at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighter-paramedics assist crash victim

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro rescue tools at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

Two other patients were transported with non-life threatening injuries to Colleton Medical Center by Medic 9. The remaining patients were treated at the scene for various traumatic injuries, but did not require ambulance transportation. Southbound traffic on I-95 was backed up for eight miles. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

 Engine 5, Engine 26, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 9, Medic 26, Car 105, Car 109, Car 110, Car 111, Car 116, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

A truck driver is credited with saving the lives of three people following a multi-vehicle accident on I-95 near the 49 mile marker northbound, Sunday 30-April at 09:53 in Colleton County, SC. Apparently, a car collided with a pickup truck causing the pickup to spin out of control on the rain slick highway. The car slid down the embankment and struck a tree trapping the male driver. The pickup truck came to rest sideways in the travel lanes. A northbound tractor-trailer was able to stop quickly and maneuver sideways stopping within two feet of the driver’s door of the disabled pickup truck avoiding a collision. A second northbound pickup truck drove into the rear of the tractor trailer at a high rate of speed with about five feet of the truck going under the back of the trailer. The male driver of the second pickup truck was heavily entrapped in his vehicle.

Both northbound lanes of I-95 were blocked by the wreckage. The first Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue unit found the driver of the second pickup truck conscious but entrapped. A medical helicopter was requested, but declined the flight due to poor weather conditions. The driver of the car was also trapped with the roof crushed into the passenger compartment. The man had no pulse and was not breathing. The Coroner’s Office was notified.

Firefighter-Paramedics removed debris from the passenger side of the pickup truck and were able to enter the vehicle. Access to the patient was limited, but patient care was initiated while other crewmembers deployed Holmatro rescue tools, using hydraulic spreaders to remove the driver’s door. Crews had the tractor trailer driver carefully pull the truck forward about three feet to provide room to displace the dash. The hydraulic spreader was used to push the dash forward and off of the patient who was extricated with spinal precautions and transported emergent by Medic 13 to the trauma center at Trident.

When the Coroner’s Office completed their investigation, extrication began on the passenger car. Hydraulic spreaders were used to remove the driver’s door, then cutters were used to remove the front section of the roof to free the driver who was transported by the Coroner’s Office. A female passenger in the same vehicle received only minor injuries and was transported to Colleton Medical Center by Medic 26. Northbound traffic on I-95 was stopped in the area of the accident for over two hours.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 26, Battalion 1, and Car 109 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy ,Fire Chief ,Colleton County Fire-Rescue

firefighter uses Holmatro spreader at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighter/paramedics with Stryker cot at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

aftermath of pickup truck that slammed into a semi trailer

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro spreaders at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro cutters at a crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

Two North Carolina residents were injured, one critically, in a single-car, high speed MVC on I-95 near the 42 mile marker southbound, Tuesday morning 07-February at 03:48. The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder left the highway, drove down the right side embankment, and struck a large tree. The impact caused heavy damage to the small SUV trapping both occupants.

Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics from Station # 13 arrived minutes later to find the passenger heavily entrapped with life threatening injuries. A second Fire-Rescue ambulance and rescue unit were requested. Crews used Holmatro rescue tools to extricate the occupants. Hydraulic spreaders, cutters, and two rams were used to remove the passenger side doors and displace the dash off of the patient. A second set of tools were used to remove the driver’s door to free the driver.

Both patients were treated during the extrication and removed with full spinal precautions. The male driver was transported to Colleton Medical Center by Medic 13. Medic 1 transported the adult female and performed advanced airway treatment enroute to the trauma center at Trident Medical in North Charleston. The patient suffered multiple traumatic and internal injuries. Neither patient was wearing a seatbelt. Two canines were also in the vehicle. One remained on the scene and did not appear to be injured. Colleton County Animal Control responded to the scene and took custody of the dog. The second animal fled the scene prior to Fire-Rescue arriving. A search of the area was performed, but the dog was not found. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Battalion 1, Car 109, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

crash scene in rural South Carolina

Barry W. McRoy photo

SUV crash on rural highway at night

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro rescue tools to free victim from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro spreaders at vehicle extrication

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro rams during crash extrication

Barry W. McRoy photo

A Spartanburg (SC) truck driver was killed after his tractor trailer over-turned on I-95 near the 65 mile marker northbound Thursday evening 22-September at 19:06. Witnesses stated the truck swerved to avoid a car who entered his lane, causing the truck to strike a guard rail. The truck received heavy damage, trapping the unrestrained driver inside.

Colleton County (SC) firefighter-paramedics arrived minutes later to find the northbound lanes blocked. The trailer, that was hauling watermelons, was in the median, while the cab was partially in the median and partially in the roadway. The truck driver suffered multiple traumatic injuries and had no signs of life.

The Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene. Once the Coroner completed his investigation, crews were cleared to begin the extrication at 20:30. Holmatro rescue tools, reciprocating saws, and chains rigged to the spreaders were used to complete the extrication, which took a little over an hour.

The Coroner’s Office transported the patient. Traffic in the northbound lanes was blocked for nearly an hour and down to one lane for four hours. It was blocked again when the towing company arrived to remove the truck. The trailer was left in the median until Friday, so it could be unloaded and righted during day light hours. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 24, Engine 26, Tender 27, Rescue 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 110 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

truck driver killed in crash on I95 in SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

truck driver killed in crash on I95 in SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

truck driver killed in crash on I95 in SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighter uses a Holmatro cutter at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

truck driver killed in crash on I95 in SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

Six people were injured after a pickup truck rear ended a car carrier on I-95 near the 54 mile marker southbound in Colleton County (SC), Tuesday morning 20-September at 02:08. Both vehicles were traveling southbound when the collision occurred. The 2015 Silverado pickup truck overtook the tractor trailer car carrier and impacted the rear of the trailer, pushing the lower deck of cars forward and causing heavy damage to the pickup truck which was pinned to the trailer. The adult male driver of the pickup truck was trapped in the wreckage and suffered multiple traumatic injuries. An adult female and two female juveniles in car seats were also injured. Both adult male patients in the tractor trailer also complained of non-life threatening injuries.

First arriving Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics on Medic 1 and Engine 1 requested three additional Fire-Rescue ambulances while they began treating the injured. One lane of southbound I-95 was closed. Crews used Holmatro rescue tools from Engine 1 to remove the driver’s door and free the driver. He was transported emergent to the trauma center at Trident Medical in Summerville by Medic 19. The other patients were transported to Colleton Medical Center. The driver of the tractor trailer denied ambulance transport.

Two dogs also escaped the pickup truck. Firefighters caught one dog and secured him until Animal Control officers arrived. Personnel and Animal Control units searched the area between Exits 53 and 57 for an hour but were unable to locate the second canine. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Engine 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

pickup truck crashes into car carrier

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighter uses Holmatro tools to cut driver from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters use Holmatro tools to cut driver from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

pickup truck crashes into car carrier

Barry W. McRoy photo

pickup truck crashes into car carrier

Barry W. McRoy photo

Long Grove (IL) firefighters were assisted by Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Palatine firefighters at the scene of a crash with an extensive extrication Friday morning, 9/2/16 at the intersection of Lake-Cook Road and IL Route 53. The driver of a car was trapped after slamming into and becoming wedged underneath the rear of a tractor-trailer around 1:30AM. Three sets of hydraulic tools were utilized during the extrication which lasted close to an hour. A helicopter was requested but was cancelled as the patient was transported to Lutheran General Hospital by Palatine Ambulance 82.

car wedged under semi trailer

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck with Holmatro rescue tools

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck with Holmatro rescue tools

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck with Holmatro rescue tools

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters free trapped driver  from car wreck with Holmatro rescue tools

Larry Shapiro photo

air bags lift semi trailer

Larry Shapiro photo

air bags lift semi trailer

Larry Shapiro photo

car wedged under semi trailer

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos at shapirophotography.net