Truck Vs. Car- What Would You Do?

I put this one up on FireHouse a number of years ago and there was some absolutely fantastic discussions about how to handle it. Unfortunately they archived their site and it was lost....

So, here it is again!

You're dispatched to a Car vs Truck.

It is reported that 1 is seriously injured, the other is fatal. (Both are trapped)

By way of background, the truck was doing 100km/h, the car failed to give way and was corkscrewed under the B Double (About 90 tonnes) for around 100 metres.

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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on August 9, 2010 at 12:33pm

WHY WOULD YOU NEED MORE THAN A SINGLE ROTATOR? You can do the Lift on this job with a twenty ton conventional.The AVERAGE Rotator is capable of lifting a MINIMUM of 40 tons,SINGULARLY. Remember,you are only lifting the POWER unit and maby a little of the front trailer as a LONG lever and pivit. Like a crowbar on a fulcrum moving a rock. I be waiting an hour minimum for a Rotator,ten minutes for a conventional Heavy wrecker.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Hann on September 1, 2010 at 8:13am

As the actual Paramedic on scene, here are a few of the issues. 1. This scene was approx 100 km from a major town so it is an isolated incident. It took the first 2 Ambulances 30 minutes to arrive on scene due to distance. Third Ambulance 40 minutes 2. This Ambulance pictured was way to close agreed (luckily not my vehicle). 3. A helicopter was dispatched but due to high workload of the day, the only available helicopter failed to arrive before the patient died despite being called on second Ambulance's arrival. 4. A heavy lift crane was available 30km away and requested. Police are in charge of these scenes but they refused to allow the crane to be called due to cost. As Paramedics, we could not override this descision but did persist in the requests. 5. As the ground was so soft, everything (chocks and airbags) sank into 3-4 ft of mud (probably further if it continued). The crane was the only option. 6. The dead patient was clearly dead (trust me). 7. The live patient was only visible from the waist up (below that was under the wheels of the truck so cutting the back of the vehicle away was not going to release the patients lower body that was also impaled into metal also under the truck. 8. Patient care included all the usual plus ETT without any sedation being required as patient had respiratory arrested on my arrival, 2 IVs and chest decompressed. 9. In Australia we prononce patients dead at the scene. Dr not required. 10. Both Rescue units within kooee of the case attended. 11. A 100 ton heavy lift airbag was 3 hours away and had also been requested (just in case), but Dispatches in the Control Room chose not to dispatch it.

Happy to answer any other questions, and Luke has photos of the patient under the truck which he may be able to load up which will clearly show injuries and position.

Would love to here any other ideas.

Permalink Reply by M.J. 6821 on September 1, 2010 at 7:35pm

Quick question. Why wouldn't you run the line to the frame near the fifth wheel use both lines and double them and block as you go up you wouldn't have to lift as high as you would if you were just lifting off the front. I agree your idea would be fast but the problem with that is looking at the picture your boom would be extended quite a bit and with the ground being mucky could the shoulder give way if you lift the frame and fifth wheel you could easily be on the road and probbly have your boom at 30 to 45 degrees which would be optimal.

Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on September 3, 2010 at 5:21pm

Michael,what wrecker company you familiar with that has a 100 ton unit? VERY few of those ANYWHERE unless it's a Crane. Biggest current production units in the USA,INCLUDING ROTATORS, are 40-70 ton class. And a 20-30 light HD can do THIS job EASILY. IF I can get Brother Luke to put the End result pics up you will see what I mean.

Permalink Reply by Mike "Lapo" Lapotasky on September 13, 2010 at 12:45pm

A fair number of diesel tractors do not have park dear...
It may not be inert but fuel in soil is significantly less dangerous...
I agree...ambulance is way too close...

Permalink Reply by Mike "Lapo" Lapotasky on September 13, 2010 at 12:47pm

Your ideas are along the ideas I had...only better. Nice work. Move to Somerset County NJ will ya?