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Trapped under cement truck
Here's an intersting article with some good for food for though about how to extricate...
Mother, daughter die in I-26 crash
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/may/13/mother_daughter_die_i_cr...
A North Charleston mother and her twin teenage daughters were trapped Monday afternoon when a cement truck landed on top of their car and cement poured inside, hardening while rescue workers tried to dig them out.
"I've never seen anything like this before," said Peter Rogers, public information officer for the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Authorities said the accident on Interstate 26 killed the mother and one of the 15-year-old sisters, who was driving the car. Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten identified them as Christina Akabidavis, 42, and Marcushire Akabidavis, 15.
The mother was in the front passenger seat, said Cpl. Paul Brouthers of the S.C. Highway Patrol. He said the 15-year-old twin, who was in the back seat, was taken by helicopter to Medical University Hospital in critical condition. Authorities did not release her name, but a previous story in The Post and Courier identified her as Maurishire Akabidavis. The same story said the twins attended Porter-Gaud. They turned 15 on Saturday, according to their online Facebook profiles.
Drivers can get their beginner's permit when they turn 15.
The driver of the cement truck, Jeffrey Mobley, 39, of Bowman, was in good condition Monday night at Trident Medical Center, the hospital said.
"He was shook up," Brouthers said.
The crash happened at about 3:10 p.m. in the eastbound lanes in front of the rest area near College Park Road. The family's red Honda made an abrupt lane change in front of the cement truck, Brouthers said. He said the truck driver tried to compensate, but struck the Honda and the truck landed on its side on top of the car.
The teenage driver contributed to the accident, but the truck driver did not, Brouthers said. He said the truck belonged to Carolina Redi-Mix Co. of Summerville.
The Honda was nearly flattened on one side and the occupants were pinned inside.
"All the concrete came out, pouring onto the car and in the car," Rogers said. "It literally filled the car with concrete up to their waist."
The concrete began to dry as nearly 20 rescue workers used their hands and shovels to clear away the mixture, Rogers said. They had to cut the car away from the mother and her children, he said.
"If anybody comes out of it alive, it's a miracle," said Diane Turok, who was stuck in traffic along with hundreds of other afternoon commuters. Eastbound lanes were closed for nearly two hours while authorities worked to clear the scene. Rush-hour travelers avoiding the interstate were stuck in long lines of traffic along College Park Road and U.S. Highway 78.
Though the crash did not affect westbound lanes of the interstate, traffic was snarled as drivers slowed to watch the commotion.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CAPNCRNCH on
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If anyone ever has to face an incident like this one where you have an extended extrication, send a police officer to the nearest convenience store for a 5# bag of sugar, mix it into the concrete and you wont have to worry about the concrete setting up for a while.
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A 5# bag of sugar will keep 8-9 yards from beginning to set up for several hours, for this scenario I would still use 5#'s because of the inability to fully mix the sugar and concrete.
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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what about a constant mixing with water- will that work. Not sure how many depts keep sugar on the truck... :)
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The pro's of using water, you can counter the effects of the heat generated by the curing process, you can wash the concrete from the patient lessening the severity of burns they will receive from the chemicals, you will be left with aggregate and some sand which will be much easier to deal with.
Some of the cons to using water, if you do not make adequate drainage you may have water combine with the concrete and build up higher on the bodies of your patients, depending on weather conditions water may initiate the process of hypothermia, and additional weight.
In this instance water may be the best option for the best patient outcome, the sugar was just something to keep in your bag of tricks. -
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Permalink Reply by Jim on
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I like the idea of opening a side of the car and washing the concrete and it's aggregate out. If it hardens, oh crap. If it's a confirmed fatility, cover the car, take to a secured location, and remove the victims. It doesn't always have to be done on the side of the road. This may seam callise to some, but it really is protecting the family from seeing on the evening news. In the last 15 years I have seen two wrecks involving these monster concrete trucks. One involved a drum on top of a car. The other was a barrel that came off the frame and went through the cab, flattening it. The last one survived the wreck and extrication.
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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wow, that sugar is a great idea and I'll keep that in the back of mind if we ever have a call like this, Thanks:)
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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on
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A couple liters of Coke or pepsi will do the same trick.This job is difficult.The mixer is a front loader and the ONLY thing that keeps the drum on the truck is the drive motor(on the thick end)and gravity.To lift one as shown it's wise ti chain the small end to the cradle with chain and binder.I've dealt with a couple of these and there was absolutely NO thought given to what happens if they tip over.
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