KELSO, Wash. — A man was hospitalized after being freed from a semi-truck late Friday evening and another driver was also taken to the hospital.
At 11:23 p.m., multiple agencies — Washington State Patrol, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz County Fire District 6 — responded to a crash involving the semi-truck and passenger truck near the Interstate 5 southbound off-ramp at exit 42.
The driver of the semi-truck was pinned inside the truck, which was on its side. Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue said two fire trucks, one ladder truck, three medical units, three chief officers and a heavy tow truck wrecker responded to move the truck so that first responders could reach the driver's seat.
Firefighters then had to use multiple stabilizing equipment; hydraulic extrication tools, also known as "jaws of life"; and saws to remove the entangled metal that was around the driver's body.
It too two hours to extricate him, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue said, and he was transported to Peace Health St. John’s Medical Center for muscular skeletal injuries, including a severe injury to his lower left leg. The 57-year-old man, who has not been identified, was later transferred to a trauma hospital.
The other driver of the passenger truck, who also has not been identified, was taken to a hospital for chest pain.
It is unknown at this time about the current condition of both drivers.
Responders, some with 20 years' experience, said this incident was "one of the challenging and complex car accidents" in their careers, according to a press release.
