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Onlookers hold their breath as firefighter attempts to rescue female truck driver dangling off bridge
The way this happened is crazy.
Sasha Alonzo
03.19.24

On a fateful Friday in Louisville, a scene of extraordinary bravery unfolded as firefighters executed a daring rescue.

The drama began when a semi-truck, part of a multi-vehicle crash, teetered precariously off the edge of the Clark Memorial Bridge.

The incident, which occurred shortly after noon, was a tense and urgent matter, as reported by CBS affiliate WLKY.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

The crash was a chaotic tangle involving not just the semi-truck, but also two passenger vehicles and a pickup truck.

The Louisville Metro Police Department reported that the collision was severe, with two individuals from one of the vehicles suffering serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.

This grave situation necessitated an immediate response from emergency services.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

The response was swift and coordinated.

Both sides of the bridge were closed to traffic as firefighters and EMS personnel rushed to the scene.

They quickly cordoned off the area, setting up a complex rescue operation.

Their goal was clear: to safely extract the driver from the dangling Sysco semi-cab.

The team employed an aerial ladder, a sophisticated pulley system, and a safety rope in their daring rescue attempt.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

Louisville Fire Chief Brian Oโ€™Neill provided a vivid account of the rescue operation.

He described the scene as one filled with about 30 firefighters, EMS workers, and rescuers, all working in unison to save the driver.

Oโ€™Neill recalled the tense moments as they reached the bridge, saying, โ€œWe could see her. We could talk to her,โ€ highlighting the critical communication between the rescuers and the trapped driver.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

The rescue operationโ€™s critical moment was led by Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden.

Carden, who had trained extensively for such high-risk rescues, was the one lowered over the bridgeโ€™s side towards the semi-cab.

He recounted his experience during a news conference, saying, โ€œI trusted the guys on the top side.โ€

His training had prepared him for this moment, and as he descended, he felt the weight of the situation, yet he was calm and focused.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

Cardenโ€™s encounter with the driver, whose identity remains protected, was a poignant one.

He found her in a state of prayer, seeking solace in her faith during those frightening moments.

โ€œShe was praying a lot, and I prayed with her โ€“ so that was good,โ€ Carden shared.

He gently urged her to focus, needing her cooperation to secure both of them in the rescue harness.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

The culmination of the rescue was a tense but ultimately triumphant moment.

The rope system carefully lifted Carden and the driver up the side of the bridge.

Onlookers watched with bated breath as the pair swung in the air, slowly being pulled to safety.

By 12:45 p.m., they were back on the bridge, out of danger.

The driver, though in stable condition, was promptly transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, as informed by Oโ€™Neill.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

Reflecting on the dayโ€™s events, Oโ€™Neill expressed his admiration for the bravery and skill of everyone involved in the rescue.

โ€œThese were some serious heroes today,โ€ he stated with pride.

The following day, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg shed more light on the incident in a news briefing.

He explained that the crash was triggered by a chain-reaction: a southbound vehicle collided with a stalled car, lost control, and then struck the northbound semi-truck, causing it to crash through the guardrail.

WDRB News - Official - YouTube
Source:
WDRB News - Official - YouTube

The aftermath of the crash was significant.

The driver of the vehicle that collided with the semi-truck was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Mayor Greenberg revealed an additional challenge in the investigation: the absence of cameras on the bridge meant there was no video footage of the collision.

However, he reassured the public that the bridge, expected to reopen by Saturday night, had not suffered any structural damage from the dramatic events.

The community breathed a sigh of relief as the bridge stood resilient, a silent witness to the dayโ€™s extraordinary acts of courage and human resilience.

Donโ€™t forget to watch the heroic rescue in the video below.

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