FIREWIRE Magazine Winter 2019: Celebrating 5 Years | Page 56

INCIDENTS: 138
Originally published in Summer 2014
138 INCIDENT
Incident Diary: Highway 138 Extrication
What follows is an incident report detailing a dramatic
traffic collision that occurred in the Cajon Pass in late June.
The account is described in first person from Capt. Jager’s
perspective as operations section chief on the incident. The
call is one that highlights County Fire’s ability to work together
across jurisdictional lines and tactical disciplines, as units from
both Division 1 and 2 responded, and with EMS, extrication and
hazardous materials mitigation skills all in play. The incident
even required the response of a hospital surgical team for the
purpose of executing a field amputation. In all, responders
showed superior professionalism in providing the best possible
care for the patients involved—Editor’s note
On June 24 at approximately 23:45 hours, San Bernardino County
Fire was dispatched to a traffic collision with extrication at I-15
and State Highway 138. Initial units dispatched were ME2, ME40,
MA305, BP40, and BC141. Comm Center dispatchers advised
incoming units of multiple people trapped with a fuel leak and that
vehicles were possibly crashed into the Shell Gas station. BC141
added R304, HM73, and MA304 to the assignment.
By: Gary Jager
a face-to-face for further instructions. Stepping out of the unit, I
was presented with the following scene.
Off the roadway, we had a large diesel dump truck fully
loaded with wet cement (estimated at 80,000 pounds) resting
completely on top of a Chrysler PT Cruiser. The truck was also
partially impinged on a concrete reinforced steel barricade
erected on the perimeter of the gas station. This canted the
truck on an approximate 20-degree angle to the driver’s
side. On the driver’s side, ME2, ME40 and BP40 had begun
extrication. The dump truck appeared to be extremely unstable.
Once at the ICP, BC Campos and I concurred that I would
assume Operations, and I received a rundown of units on
scene and their assignments. With all units advised of this
decision, I left the ICP and was able to complete a survey of
the whole scene. The complexity of the extrication and the
efforts it was going to take to stabilize the vehicles became
frighteningly clear.
Because of its elevated position, I chose R304 as the best
spot to oversee the incident. I divided Rescue Group into two
divisions, with Capt. John Flesher’s ME2 crew working the
passenger’s side, and Capt. Dave Burkart’s ME40 crew on the
driver’s side. HM73 with Capt. Kyle Hauducoeur was assigned
Hazmat Group, with the objective of controlling the fuel leak.
BP40 was reassigned to the driver side to assist ME40.
Ten minutes after the commencement of extrication, the first
victim was rescued and transported by MA304 to Arrowhead
Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton.
Hazmat successfully mitigated the fuel leak, and Captain
Hauducoeur’s team was transitioned to safety officer to fill
the request placed by the IC. The remainder of HM73’s crew
was re-tasked to Captain Flesher’s rescue group on the
passenger’s side.
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FIREWIRE • Five Year Anniversary
Utilizing heavy equipment and timber from the Cajon Pass
rehabilitation project, Chriss and Hauducoeur coordinated the use
of two front-end loaders, heavy wreckers, and heavy timber to
effect the safest condition possible.
Realizing the extraordinary complexity of this operation, the
decision was made to request a Hospital Emergency Response
Team (HERT) through Comm Center. ARMC’s team was
subsequently brought to the scene by MA304. Additionally, family
members of the victims began arriving, and Captain Burkhart
was named Chaplain Group to provide support to the families on
scene; Engineer Chris Williams assumed driver’s side rescue group
supervisor.
As time passed, Operations was advised that Captain Flesher’s
team had extricated the second victim. By now, Medical Group had
been established, and two air ambulances had been requested
with ME10 added to the assignment as Air-Ops. Patient two was
transported to the landing zone by MA14 and ultimately transported
by H165 to ARMC.
Once that patient was rescued, we realized that we had a total
of five occupants in the vehicle. The new patient count was three
immediates, one delayed, and two deceased.
Minutes later BP40 gave the initial size-up describing a large
dump truck resting on a passenger vehicle with major damage.
Soon after, ME40 arrived on scene and added that the vehicles
were in the parking lot of the gas station and not into the actual
building. Battalion Chief Rich Campos assumed “138 IC” on his
arrival and reported extended extrication with a patient count of
four “immediates” and one “delayed.” He also requested additional
ambulances on the assignment.
Our crew arrived aboard Rescue 304 about 12 minutes after
dispatch. We positioned on Highway 138 to support lighting
operations before being named Rescue Group. The IC requested
Concurrently, we were addressing the top priority of stabilizing the
dump truck to provide safety for the victims and rescuers. Initially,
this was accomplished utilizing a chain secured to a front loader
that was near the scene. Realizing that this arrangement needed
to be significantly reinforced, Engineer Bryan Chriss was assigned
Heavy Operator Group with the objective of stabilizing the vehicle
by any means necessary. It should be noted that due to the slope
behind the truck, removal of the wet concrete was not feasible, as it
would have run back under the truck.
The last patient to be rescued was the most complicated, and
would ultimately take the longest. The rescue crew that was
attempting the extrication advised that the dump truck needed to
be lifted and moved to achieve victim access. Heavy Operator
Group was notified of the need and coordinated the move using
two heavy wreckers and two large front-end loaders. As previously
mentioned, the construction crews on scene had acquired heavy
timber from the bridge construction project in the Cajon Pass. One
wrecker was moved to the front of the truck and one to the side.
These two accomplished the majority of the lifting. The wrecker on
the passenger side required a loader to anchor it to the ground as
its rear wheels lost contact during the initial attempt. The second
loader was placed on the driver’s side to assist with moving, as well
as a safety for the crews that were performing the rescue on this
side of the vehicle. Once all vehicles were in place, a traditional lift/
crib operation was effected. With the truck on a 20-degree tilt, and
a full load of wet concrete, each inch of lift resulted in a significant
load shift. Through patience and strong communication, the 40-ton
diesel truck was ultimately lifted over four feet.
After hours of extrication, Rescue Group and attending paramedics
approached me and stated that they had exhausted all extrication
techniques. The third victim was still trapped in the wreckage. The
HERT team was briefed, and with all techniques exhausted, a
collaborative decision was made to have the surgeons evaluate the
victim for bilateral leg amputations. While the trauma staff prepped
its equipment, Captain Flesher made one more scene assessment
and asked me to consider one last ditch effort: he and one
County Fire crews were met with numerous
challenges during the incident. This unprecedented
event put our capabilities to the test.
additional rescuer would commit to crawling under the dump
truck to make one more attempt at rescuing the victim.
With the surgical team on stand-by, Flesher and Firefighter
Carlos Estrella placed themselves at extraordinary risk for
an additional 45 minutes laboring under the 40-ton truck.
Ultimately they effected the rescue of the third trapped victim.
The patient was transported to ARMC via MA304 with the
HERT team augmenting the ALS capabilities of the crew.
The one delayed patient was the driver of the dump truck
who, after the extrication and transport of all parties from the
PT Cruiser, requested transport for evaluation of an isolated
extremity injury.
The final obstacle was removing the truck from the passenger
vehicle so that the deceased victims could be extricated.
Once again, Heavy Operator Group was utilized to coordinate
efforts with the tow company. The dump truck was wholly
lifted and stabilized three to four feet around the passenger
vehicle. The coroner arrived on scene and advised that the
remainder of the extrication could be completed. The two
deceased victims were extricated and ultimately removed
from the scene by the San Bernardino County Coroner.
Following the incident, an in-depth critical incident stress
debriefing was conducted for all members that were involved
in this truly unique and complex effort.
Winter 2019 • FIREWIRE
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