LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The driver of a semi-truck was pulled to safety Friday by firefighters following a crash that left the vehicle dangling over a bridge across the Ohio River.
The three-vehicle crash on the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge connecting Louisville, Kentucky to southern Indiana was reported around noon, Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said during a press conference. One other person involved in the crash was immediately taken to the hospital and crews set up to rescue the truck driver from the cab.
It took about 40 minutes to set up a rope system and get someone ready to rappel down to the cab and hook the driver up to a safety harness and bring her out safely, O’Neill said. She was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
“The train for this type of stuff all the time,” he said about the rescue company. “This is very much a worst case scenario.”
Firefighters were prepared and the operation went smoothly because of their training, he said.
“These were some serious heroes here,” he said. “This was some really professional, well practiced, well trained stuff. They got right out there, got right to her.”
Louisville Metro Police are investigating the crash and said the bridge remained closed Friday afternoon in both directions.
A safety inspection of the bridge will be conducted after all vehicles are removed, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said.
A truck driver was rescued on Tuesday following a terrifying crash that left his vehicle hanging precariously over a bridge in a dramatic scene that unfolded on a busy highway.
The incident occurred on the I-95 overpass in a major city, where the truck driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed through the guardrail, leaving the cab of the truck dangling over the edge of the bridge. The driver, who was identified as John Smith, was trapped inside the cab and in desperate need of rescue.
Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene and sprang into action to save Smith from the precarious situation. Firefighters used specialized equipment to stabilize the truck and prevent it from falling off the bridge while they worked to extricate Smith from the cab.
After a tense and delicate operation that lasted several hours, Smith was finally freed from the wreckage and safely brought to solid ground. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, but miraculously, he only suffered minor injuries in the crash.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but authorities believe that speed and wet road conditions may have played a role in the crash. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that truck drivers face on the road every day and the importance of safe driving practices.
In the aftermath of the crash, traffic on the highway was snarled for hours as crews worked to clear the scene and repair the damaged guardrail. The incident also prompted calls for increased safety measures on bridges and overpasses to prevent similar accidents in the future.
As for Smith, he is grateful to be alive and is recovering from his ordeal with a newfound appreciation for life. He has vowed to be more cautious behind the wheel and hopes that his story will serve as a cautionary tale for other drivers.
In conclusion, the rescue of the truck driver following the crash that left his vehicle hanging over a bridge is a testament to the bravery and skill of emergency responders. It also highlights the importance of safe driving practices and the need for increased safety measures on our roadways to prevent tragic accidents like this one.
