DADE COUNTY, Georgia - Wednesday, February 3,2010 - 7:30 pm - Dade County
Firefighters with Trenton Fire Department, North Dade Fire Department and
Medics with Life Guard EMS were alerted of a second crash on Interstate 59
Northbound within an hour of the first crash. The 9-1-1 Dispatcher advised
units that the new crash was just a few yards south of the current
operations. Dispatchers also advised that 9-1-1 callers were reporting a
vehicle under the trailer of a semi truck.
Dade County Sheriffs Officers were first to
arrive on the scene, just seconds after the dispatch and they quickly
reported a serious crash with heavy entrapment. A Dade County Firefighter
was second to arrive on the scene. One of the Dade County Sheriffs Officers
and the firefighter, putting their own safety aside, entered the wreckage to
start patient care. Within seconds, several additional units arrived on the
scene, including a Life Guard Medic Unit. Medics quickly started taking over
patient care with the assistance of the Firefighters and Sheriffs Officers.
Meanwhile, additional Firefighters and
rescuers started setting up to start the difficult task of extricating the
two patients from the wreckage. Both patients, the driver and the passenger
of the mini van were in critical condition and rescuers quickly called for
an air ambulance. Dispatchers quickly advised that the Life Force Helicopter
from Erlanger was not available, however they were told by command to
quickly find another one that could fly. Due to the critical nature of the
injuries and the estimated time it would take to extricate the driver,
rescuers knew it was absolutely necessary to have the air ambulance.
Firefighters used Hydraulic air bags and
rams to slowly raise the trailer of the semi up while cribbing for safety.
Crews had to get the trailer up high enough to pull the mini van out from
under the trailer before they could even start the primary extrication
process. Firefighters from the different departments as well as medics and
police officers worked together systematically like a well oiled chain.
After the mini van was freed from the
trailer, crews could start working the vehicle itself. Two separate crews
worked in sync with two sets hydraulic tools. Cutting the roof and doors off
the vehicle and then rolling the dash, just about every part of the vehicle
had to be removed or pushed out of the way to free the victims. One hour and
53 minutes after the extrication started, the last patient was finally
freed. Both of the patients were taken to Erlanger Medical Center In
Chattanooga. The passenger was transported by ground in a Life Guard
Ambulance and the driver was flown by air ambulance.
Traffic on Interstate 59 was shut down for
several hours due to the crash. This crash was believed to have been in part
caused by the backup from the first crash, however it is under investigation
by the Georgia State Patrol.
Story and photos by
Bill Carson and Barb Wuelfing
