Grand Rapids, MI (WZZM) – Grand Rapids Battalion Chief Bart Perry says removing the driver from a semi-truck that overturned on I-196 Thursday morning was the most difficult extrication in his 30 years at the fire department.
“It was a 3 ½ hour extraction,” he says. “I’ve never had anything like that in my entire career.”
The semi overturned at about 6:45 a.m. trying to exit the Interstate at Ottawa Avenue.
Battalion Chief Perry says it took 29 firefighters using every tool on the truck to finally cut the driver out.
He says they had to overcome many challenges.
“The vehicle rolled over onto the driver’s side, which impaired our access,” he explains. “We also had flammable liquids and oil spilling from the vehicle. We didn’t have access to the batteries so at any minute the air bags could deploy causing more harm. And we had traffic trying to get…
View original post 112 more words
NW Fire Blog 