02/February/2020 – I-95 Entrapment – “B” Shift

Incident # 20-00740 – A 54 year old Charlotte NC woman used some innovative thinking after her hands were crushed and she became trapped while changing a tire on a dark section of I-95 near the 68 mile marker NB Sunday evening 02-February. The incident was dispatched at 18:57. The woman’s car suffered a flat tire while traveling northbound and she was forced to pull over into the breakdown lane. She removed the flat tire and was replacing it with the spare, when the jack slipped causing the car to fall, crushing both of her hands between the tire and the fender. She was trapped alone on the side of the dark Interstate, experiencing excruciating pain. Over the next  35 minutes, she was able to slip off one shoe and manipulate her cell. After many attempts she was able to dial 9-1-1 with her toes and advise them of her predicament. Fire-Rescue units were dispatched to the rural stretch of I-95. Battalion 1 and Car 112 arrived about 8 minutes later having just cleared up from another incident in the area. They used a prybar without success and then deflated the tire to remove the air, however the car just dropped as the tire deflated. Using the prybar, they were able to free one hand. Engine 26 arrived a short time later and the crew deployed a Holmatro Hydraulic Spreader to lift the car. This freed her other hand. The woman advised she was trapped for about 45 minutes. She suffered severe damage to both hands and all fingers. Firefighter-Paramedics treated her injuries and administered pain medications, then transported her to the Trauma Center at Trident Hospital in Fire-Rescue Medic 19.

Engine 5, Engine 26, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 112 responded. Chief McRoy served as Incident Commander.