Big Rig Left Dangling Precariously
Commuters on Interstate 5 found themselves encountering an unexpected delay when a terrifying crash occurred on the afternoon of Friday, June 25th. As a result of the incident, the cab of a semi-truck was left hanging precariously from the side of the Yolo Bypass.
The accident took place shortly after 12:30 p.m. in the northbound direction of I-5, approaching the Sacramento River. What led to the crash is not clear, but a Caltrans traffic camera caught the moment of impact when the big rig collided with the guardrail.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), two people within the truck had to be rescued. The incident caused heavy traffic congestion and a significant delay for commuters traveling from Sacramento to Woodland. The crash caused both lanes of the Yolo Bypass to be closed for a few hours. By 3:00 p.m., one lane was able to be reopened.
Courageous Rescue of the Big Rig Occupants
Emergency responders executed a daring rescue of the two occupants of the big rig, later revealed to be a grandfather and his grandson.
Woodland Fire Department responded to the scene and determined they had only minutes to get the truck occupants to safety. They acted quickly, and the time it took to get the equipment setup and the ladder extended to the extrication of the big rig occupants was merely 12 minutes. The rescue method used was not something fire personnel gets to execute often – it involved a firefighter strapped into a rescue harness attached to the ladder’s end. From there, the firefighter was lowered into the truck’s cab, at which point a harness was attached to the passenger and driver, and they were pulled to safety.
It was noted by the Battalion Chief that, not surprisingly, the truck occupants were delighted to be back on the ground after being rescued. They are lucky to be alive, according to first responders, since they were suspended 60 feet above the ground.
It is not often that first responders are called to a scene like this. The last time a similar accident occurred was a number of years ago, and that incident was caused by heavy winds, which were not present on Friday.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a local news clip reporting on this story.
The Yolo Bypass
The Yolo Bypass is a flood bypass that spans Solano and Yolo Counties. It is intended to divert Sacramento River floodwaters away from the cities and communities near the river. In periods when the Sacramento Valley region gets a lot of rain, the bypass can be full of water.
The Yolo Bypass is spanned by the Yolo Causeway on Interstate 80, which links the city of Davis and West Sacramento. It can also be crossed via Interstate 5 at the Elkhorn Causeway, which is east of Woodland.
Woodland Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for visiting our legal blog. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Woodland personal injury lawyer. Accidents happen every day on the highways and roads in Northern California. The injury lawyers at my firm have assisted residents of Woodland and surrounding cities with their personal injury claims for close to four decades. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries due to the negligence of another motorist, we are here to help. Give us a call and we can set up a no-obligation consultation to go over your potential case, or we can simply offer free and friendly legal advice. Our phone number is (530) 392-9400. If you will be calling from outside the local region, please use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.
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Photo: Pixabay
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