OVERTURNED TRACTOR-TRAILER WITH ENTRAPMENT

Date & Time: Thursday, July 3, 2008 – 3:46 a.m.

Location: Ramp from Route 1 South to Interstate 95 South, Lawrence Township, N.J.

Details: Lawrenceville Fire Co., Rescue 22 from Lawrence Road Fire Co., and Rescue 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. were all dispatched for a reported accident with possible entrapment. Rescue 22 arrived on scene at 3:56 a.m., followed by Rescue 21 at 3:57 a.m. and Rescue 23 and Utility 23 at 4:01 a.m. Firefighters discovered that a tractor-trailer had gone off the road and overturned. The cab of the tractor had come to rest on the guardrail, trapping the driver, and the rig was leaking diesel fuel. A 1.75-inch hoseline was immediately stretched from Rescue 22 as firefighters went to work. Nearly all of Rescue 22’s Holmatro tools and air bags were utilized as crews struggled to free the heavily entrapped driver. A heavy-duty wrecker was special-called to assist with extrication efforts. Firefighters finally had the injured man freed by 4:42 a.m. Fortunately, his injuries were not considered life-threatening. He was transported by EMS to an area hospital for treatment. After picking up all their tools, Rescue 22 and Rescue 21 were released from the scene at 5:29 a.m. Lawrenceville firefighters, meanwhile, remained on the scene until 1 p.m. attending to the fuel spill and standing by with state police while the overturned tractor-trailer was uprighted and removed.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Rescue 22

Officer: Capt. Michael Byrd	Driver: Ff. Shaun Dlabik
Crew: Lt. Richard Laird III	Crew: Lt. Joseph Dlabik Jr.
Crew: Ff. Keith Kent	Crew: Ff. Ryan Dlabik

Car 22-1

Assistant Chief John Britton

All photos copyright (c) 2008 by Jackie Mrozicki, Lawrenceville Fire Co.