Extraordinary Rescue Operation on a Bridge
An incredible incident occurred on US Route 35 in West Virginia. A truck driver found himself trapped: the cab of his vehicle was hanging off a bridge at a height of about 30 meters above the ground. The incident happened early in the morning when the truck reportedly collided with a concrete barrier.
What Saved the Situation
A full fall was prevented thanks to the cargo. The semi-trailer was loaded with bricks, and this weight kept the entire structure from falling off the bridge. Thus, only the cab with the driver inside was left suspended in the air.
Complexity of the Rescue Work
This was a challenge for the rescuers. They noted that while there have been truck accidents on this bridge before, it was the first time a vehicle remained suspended in the air with no obvious way to reach the victim.
We’ve had a couple of incidents where trucks have gone off this bridge, but this is the first time one has remained suspended in the air with no real way to get to the driver other than rappelling down.
Course of the Operation
Rescue teams from several departments arrived at the scene. First, they managed to thread a strap through the cab’s side windows to secure its position. After that, the most difficult part began — the evacuation of the driver.
Firefighter’s Daring Descent
As seen in the video, one of the firefighters was secured to a ladder on a special vehicle and slowly lowered to the cab. He got inside, harnessed the driver to himself, and then both of them were carefully lifted to safety. The entire process took five and a half hours, but the driver was unharmed.
This story is a reminder of how unpredictable the road can be and how crucial the professional training of emergency services is. The successful outcome of a rescue operation lasting over five hours speaks to the excellent coordination between different units and the courage of individual rescuers willing to risk themselves for others. Such events also draw attention to infrastructure — the safety of bridges and roads remains a critically important issue, especially for heavy transport.