Salisbury Fire Department

June 25, 2010 – The Salisbury Fire Department was dispatched for a reported MVC with rescue on the Salisbury Bypass in the area of mile marker 33. Upon arrival Assistant Chief 1, (Tull), established Command and units found a single vehicle accident involving a Mazda pickup. The vehicle had hit the guardrail causing the vehicle to rollover down an embankment approximately 50' below the street. The vehicle came to rest upright on the railroad tracks below the overpass. The vehicle had extensive damage entrapping the driver in the driver's seat. Crews utilized utility rope to lower equipment and Hurst tools to awaiting personnel below. Due to the driver's positioning, crews removed the vehicle's roof and driver's door. While extrication efforts were underway, crews began assembling a rope hauling system utilizing the aerial device from Truck 1 as a high point anchor. Command was transferred to Chief 1. Assistant Chief 1 was assigned to oversee the establishment of the rope hauling system. The rope hauling system consisted of a stokes basket attached to a 2 over 2 hauling system. The basket was lowered to the crews below and the patient was placed on a long board and then secured in the stokes basket. Personnel secured a tag line to the basket and guided the patient and basket during lifting operations. The patient was lifted without incident to EMS personnel located on the bypass. The patient was transported to PRMC by Salisbury EMS. The scene was transferred to Maryland State Police. All units returned to service without incident. Units: AC1, C1, R16, PM2, PM1, TK1 Photo by: Billy Adkins