July 9, 2012

9:19 AM

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 2:14 this afternoon to a head-on traffic accident at 7098 N Marine Drive. Initial reports from bystanders were that an adult male was pinned inside his vehicle. Engine 22 (St. Johns) and Engine 26 (Portsmouth/University Park) arrived first at 2:26 pm and found a sedan with significant left front damage and a single driver in critical condition pinned in the driver seat. Firefighters were able to quickly remove both drivers' side doors with the standard issue Holmatro tools to gain better access. Firefighters then determined that the drivers' legs were trapped under the steering wheel and dash but did not appear to be entangled. The roof was removed using a combination of Holmatro cutters and the Hilti saw. Then firefighters decided to use the First Responder Jack and chain maneuver they recently learned in specialized extrication training to lift the steering wheel and dash off the patient's legs.

"This pin-in was our first opportunity to use the new Hi-Lift 1st Responder Jacks that were recently provided by the Shirlee Ann Fund," said Capt. Eric Pedersen. "It proved to be instrumental in freeing the victim."

Life Flight was initially called to assist in the transport of the patient to Emanuel Hospital. The incident commander later determined that the quickest transport would be by American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulance. A second stable male was also transported to Emanuel hospital by AMR. Both patients were being transported by 2:49 pm.

N Marine Drive was closed to all vehicular traffic during the extrication.