Auburn Fire responded to a report of a tractor trailer truck rollover on Friday April 10th shortly after 3pm. The accident was on the westbound on ramp to the Mass Pike from Interstate 290/395.
The tractor trailer truck hauling fish rolled over onto the driver’s side of the truck pinning the driver. I don’t have all the details as I was just leaving work when this came in. I was in and out of radio range.
Worcester’s Rescue 1 was called to assist in extrication of the driver who was heavily entrapped. Lifeflight was requested but not flying at the time of the request due to intermittent rain, sleet and snow flurries passing thru the area. The Lifeflight ground crew was brought to the scene by U-Mass EMS.
I got there a little after 4pm and the driver was still heavily entrapped. Interstate towing was on scene with an arsenal of equipment to assist.
Firefighters used every tool in the toolbox to cut the truck out from around the driver. While firefighters worked inside the cab to free the trapped driver a heavy-duty tow truck from Interstate Towing secured the cab of the truck with its winch lines so it would not move.
The driver was finally freed after being pinned for over 2 and ½ hours in the wrecked rig.
At one point they felt they could safely get the helicopter to the scene but decided to transport in the U-Mass truck with the Lifeflight ground crew.
This incident was a perfect example of team work within multiple disciplines. Auburn Fire, Worcester Fire, Mass State Police, Worcester EMS, U-Mass Lifeflight, Mass DOT and Interstate Towing all working together to achieve a common goal!
