Elmhurst firefighters responded this morning to a single vehicle MVA on the northbound RT 83 ramp to eastbound I290. They arrived to find a tractor-trailer that had rolled onto one side trapping the driver inside the cab. When the truck rolled, the trailer struck a light pole which buckled in the middle spilling part of the load of plastic pellets. Elmhurst companies responded with two medic units, a battalion chief, an engine, a tower ladder and the heavy rescue unit. The extrication took over 45 minutes and the incident commander requested a medivac to transport the patient. Lifestar Chicago, formerly Loyola Lifestar, transported the patient after the extrication was completed.
Larry Shapiro was in the area and submitted several images from the scene.
The Lifestar helicopter lands on the northbound lanes of Route 83 just south of the Eisenhower Expressway to pickup a patient that was trapped in a truck. Larry Shapiro photo
Elmhurst Fire Department units line the exit ramp from Route 83 to the Eisenhower Expressway as firefighters work to free the driver from this overturned truck. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters transfer the truck driver from an Elmhurst ambulance to the care of Lifestar personnel for transportation to the hospital. Larry Shapiro photo
A steel cable off the front-end winch of Elmhurst's squad was used in conjunction with rescue jacks to stabilize the truck as firefighters worked to free the driver. Larry Shapiro photo
Elmhurst firefighters in Squad 1 pickup from the scene after storing all of the equipment used during the rescue. Larry Shapiro photo
After the patient was removed and transported to the hospital, the damage to the truck can be seen both at the trailer which has split open spilling debris into the grass and the tractor that was cut apart to rescue the driver. Larry Shapiro photo
As an engine company from Bensenville stands by securing the landing zone, the helicopter lifts off en-route to the hospital. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more images from this scene can be viewed HERE.
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#1 by Donald J Kaleta on July 25, 2011 - 9:25 PM
Please search DEFORMABLE KINGPIN that explains a simple to understand solution to forbid a tractor to follow into destruction during rollover events. The concept is the same as to why you have fuses or circuit breakers in electrical systems in your home, office or car — a failsafe — to prevent further destruction. This innovation is a simple modification of a component, the trailer’s coupling kingpin, whose design has been a standard for over 70 years, which can be made to deform and not allow an extremely stable tractor to follow to destruction when the trailer, that is the dominant controlling force, is in IMMINENT peril for rollover, that includes also blown over tractor trailers. The NHTSA & FMCSA continue to turn their backs and ignore their past funded research conclusions, as the trucking industry evolves greater unstable tractor trailers on our highways that have a primary attribute for increasing payload capacity. These catastrophes will continue to occur in thousands of accidents of this type each year as they have in the past, and continue to cause infrastructure damage that will harm and kill many hundreds of tractor occupants annually. These combination vehicles are incendiary bombs when carrying flammable material in tankers, and the flash point for these fires starts with the tractor’s involvement. A statement received from the FMCSA states “There are a variety of technologies for preventing rollover crashes and we believe motor carriers should have as much flexibility as possible in selecting technologies to prevent crashes.” Clearly the fox is allowed to guard the hen house!!! The harm, death & destruction will continue with combination vehicle rollover accidents. Donald J. Kaleta