October 9, 2009

Two Trapped in Overturned Car on Beltway 

Rescue Squad crews responded to a personal injury collision with report of a rollover.  First arriving units on scene confirmed a car on its driver’s side with 2 people trapped inside.

Rescue Squad 741, Medic 741 and Chief 741 were dispatched at 2042 hours to the Outer Loop of I-495 just prior to the exit for Rt. 355, in Bethesda, along with Engine 707 from Chevy Chase.   Ambulance 741B and Bethesda Engine 720 were dispatched to the Inner Loop.  The accident actually occurred just beyond the exit ramp, on a sloped embankment above a 3-foot Jersey barrier that separated the 2 roads.  The roof of the car faced the Beltway and its underside faced the Rt. 355 exit ramp. 

The crew of RS741 immediately began stabilization by attaching 84” Para-Tech struts to the underside side of the vehicle.  There was no anchor point in the immediate vicinity to secure the car against the struts, so the crew positioned Chief 741’s car on the Rt. 355 ramp directly above the site.  This enabled the crew to anchor the overturned vehicle using cargo straps and a strap come-along.   Other personnel wedged step chocks under the top side of the car in order to stabilize that side of the vehicle.

The squad crew then cut the window frame underneath the vehicle, which created just enough space to allow the two persons trapped inside to crawl out.  Both were quickly transported to Suburban Hospital with minor injuries.

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