Tricky Roll Over - 02/22/2001 Vacaville Fire Department, California Gold Pin Award Recipients: FF Drew Kostal FF/PM/Eng. Bill Glade FF/PM/Eng. Geoff Jeppson FF Steven Ellingson FF Jimmy Means Engineer David Ennes Engineer Loren Drowne Captain Steve Bowman Captain Rob Glankler Division Chief Joel Brick Battalion Chief Steve Carpenter Report of a Vehicle Roll Over On February 22, 2001 at 1026 hours the Vacaville Fire Department was dispached to a report of a vehicle roll over off of I-80 at Lagoon Valley. The response included 1 Engine,1 Ambulance,1 Squad and a Battalion Chief. Upon arrival Battalion Chief Carpenter found a Chevrolet pick-up truck on its roof with two occupants trapped inside. A male was suspended from the seatbelt on the driver's side while a female was found laying under the vehicle on the passengers side, with only her head visible. As Luck Would Have It The female patient's body was still inside the vehicle. During the roll over she was in the process of being ejected when the roof collapsed impinging on her neck. The passenger's side door window sill was impinging on her neck from the other side. The truck was resting in soft dirt and mud which probably contributed to her surviving this accident. Battalion Chief Carpenter (aka DAD), called for an additional ground ambulance as well as a helicopter ambulance. Quick Action Captain Steve Bowman was assigned as extrication supervisor and Captain Rob Glankler as the medical supervisor. The most immediate task was to stabilize the vehicle as any movement could have decapitated the female patient. An additional complication was the terrain. The vehicle was on a slight slope and the possibility of it sliding was a concern. Using 4x4 cribbing and step chocks the crew quickly stabilized the truck. A tow truck cable was used to tie into the undercarriage of the vehicle to prevent any sliding. With the vehicle secure the delicate extrication could begin. Coordinated Effort Holmatro high pressure lifting bags were put in place on the passenger's side so that the vehicle could be lifted at the same time that the crew used Holmatro hydraulic tools to free the patients. As the vehicle was lifted the driver's door was removed using a Holmatro 2008A spreader and a 2001 cutter. Enough space was created with the spreader to get the 2001 cutter in and cut the hinges. The door lifted off with no movement of the vehicle. Both patients were extricated and transported within 21 minutes of Vacaville Fire Departments arrival.