[Traffic Cam] Large Seattle FD response for person trapped under trailer

On June 8th, 2022 I captured footage of a "Rescue Heavy Major" call in central Seattle, for a person trapped under an overturned truck trailer. The victim was pinned by just their ankle, and they were successfully extricated by Seattle Fire crews. A second victim sustained a head injury while trying to avoid being struck by the trailer. Both victims were transported to Harborview.
After fire cleared the scene, crews went to work righting the trailer. They had to unload the bread from the flipped trailer, and remove overhead wires used by the trolley busses.
Unfortunately, the video ended up lagging behind the audio by quite a bit on this one. I thought about downloading fresh audio and trying to line it up, but I was working with over an hour of footage, and decided it would be more trouble than it was worth.
The first video I recorded started at 10:35 AM, and the last one started at 4:05 PM, so this was an all day incident.
The photo used (6:33) was from the SFD Twitter account.
Clip listing:
0:00 - Initial response
5:20 - Patient extricated
7:32 - Unloading truck and moving wires
8:20 - Lifting the trailer (time lapse)
9:28 - Aftermath

[@RailwayJanni]

7:32 Yes, you are correct. The northbound trolley overhead was removed to give more room the tow trucks to right the trailer. You can see the end of the overhead being attached to the stoplight arm temporarily at the timestamp.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Oh, so that's what they're doing there. I had a feeling you'd know - thanks for the info!

[@dmdwst8787]

Hope they could get him out without problems and his ankle and foot healed. In winter we responded to a traffic accident and the passenger was pinned so bad we had to cut both his leg off. He wasn't in the passanger seat anymore either, he was in the back row, almost in the trunk pretty much. Driver was dead on impact. Greetings from a german firefighter.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Oof, that's brutal - thank you for the work you do!

[@juliogonzo2718]

Yeah was thinking the same, hope he didn't lose his foot, at least it only landed on his foot and not his whole body

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

He can still die from this. There's a insidious killer called crush syndrome

[@williamhollingsworth13]

Whatd you cut it off with? 💀

[@deekamikaze]

​@@williamhollingsworth13 something sharp I'd hope

[@SuperHusky83]

Love that the bread truck just drove away lol

[@morticiaheisenberg9679]

Deliveries are on a tight schedule

[@FirePoAm]

So detailed for this situation

[@5Otree]

Soooo someone literally just sits here and watches traffic cams all day?

[@C.CUMM1NGS]

Don't you just hate it when your groceries are delivered and the bread has been crushed 😜 I hope the persons ankle was not to seriously injured and that they will be able to walk on it after it's healed up. 🙏🏼

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Yeah, that poor person is going to be traumatized every time they see bread for a while. I'm also hoping they have a quick recovery.

[@cyndisherry7547]

I love your argument with the camera guys!! How in the world did this even happen?? Great video though, different! I'm glad they didn't have a mass extrication incident... That really sucks.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Yeah - I was definitely annoyed at how often they turned the camera 😀. As for what happened, I think the truck was turning left, and presumably was moving too fast. The load might also have shifted while they went around the corner. And yeah, as bad as it was for the person who got pinned, it could have been a lot worse if it had been a big crowd at the bus stop. Thanks for watching!

[@cyndisherry7547]

@@SeattleTrafficCams Thank you!! 👍 As always ... My pleasure to watch my friend!!

[@Maxid1]

@@SeattleTrafficCams That gash on the upper left side of the trailer makes it look like it was hit by or hit something that caused it to roll over. No video of the truck turning?

[@brianspencer6397]

Camera probably returns to autopan mode once the operator stops playing with the joystick for a few minutes....

[@birdsrule8608]

6:06 lol love that face. Same expression I made. Also 7:32 I wanna see how that second semi backed up there. Prob pretty good at backing semis.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Yeah, they probably had a spotting team to help with the backing. Thanks for watching!

[@RichManSCTV0]

Yall allow doubles in the city??

[@partydemon2849]

Looks like a turnpike double, I’m very surprised that’s allowed

[@celiajane4250]

@@partydemon2849 And for a truck driver to drive so fast on a city street that it could flip over. He needs to go back to truck school.

[@dchawk81]

​@@partydemon2849 There's no way those are turnpike doubles.

[@seattlearearesponses]

Wooo! New vid! Great catch. (Edit) Jeez that’s a big flip hope everyone’s okay.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Thanks! I don't know if I'd call a crushed ankle "ok," but they survived at least.

[@seattlearearesponses]

Well hope they recover well then

[@number-1-Saxman]

I'm interested in how that trailer fell over? Did the truck driver take the corner too fast?

[@juliogonzo2718]

Those doubles with converter dollies are kinda wobbly, maybe braked hard mid turn or something and jacknifed the dolly?

[@Mike_Greentea]

I used to pull double trailers. If the second trailer is heavier than the first that is not good. Probably sped through the traffic light at high speed going up a hill? Not good.

[@SirFloofy001]

Im guessing the camera keeps turning away because the news is making a report about the road being blocked and they want to show how much traffic has backed up. Fits the style, one turn to check traffic as its building near the beginning of the incident, and one near cleanup to show the road is almost clear and traffic has gotten better.

[@CoryBoehne]

Ah, that rare case where bread crushes you instead of the other way around.

[@daveward1484]

Ya think they've got enough equipment on scene?

[@tommyebay]

Nice job by the rescue workers... aka heros!!!

[@stockae74]

How in the world did that one trailer fall over?

[@djsylambert]

How did the trailer flip over?

[@carstorm85]

wow, I didn't even realize it was a double trailer until it was righted. Until then I just thought it was a box truck.

[@hugh-iu7vo]

How did something like this happen

[@dchawk81]

That person sitting on the bus stop bench like there's no semi laying on top of a human right in front of them

[@Zombie-Tog]

Geez....why did turntable ladder even arrive?

[@williamschlenger1518]

They have some great equipment 👍

[@williamschlenger1518]

A job well done 👍👍

[@bottleandscrap7626]

I love those officers

[@mikesaporitojr3313]

Just a question from a curious East Coast Fireman (that being me) what was that first SFD unit that arrived

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Hey Mike, the first SFD unit visible (around 1:35) was Air 10, one of the department's two rigs that carry spare air bottles. SFD also has two larger air rigs that can refill the bottles as well. Thanks for watching!

[@mikesaporitojr3313]

@@SeattleTrafficCams thanks

[@zyglo9826]

I’m trying to figure out how it’s possible to overturn a semi trailer in the middle of a city. I’ve seen how easily it happens at highway speeds, but on a busy downtown street?

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Yeah, I'm not sure - maybe speed and load shift? Thanks for watching!

[@psychwardsandSCENE]

by taking a corner too tightly? speed is not the common factor in these incidents.

[@peterkristian5772]

Amazing work, but I'm curious why there's such a massive amount of vehicles and personell on the scene for just one person?

[@NoName5589]

It sounded like they didn't know the exact situation not the number of people involved hence the initial lifting of the trailer to check for more victims. Better to overreact than to realise later there were more people under the trailer and now you need more manpower

[@lm002e12]

Firefighters are SO cool!

[@seancampbell9896]

How many fire engines does it take to rescue someone from a truck?

[@greenwoodfireresponse]

It depends on how they’re pinned, what’s their injuries, and how stable the vehicles are, people this kind of work isn’t as simple as what you think it is.

[@kentcarter835]

How many would you want if it was a member of your family trapped under that rig?

[@rolandmiller5456]

As many as we need Sean. We have procedures for incidents like this. To give you an example for something like a trench collapse we send at least 5 engines.

[@juliogonzo2718]

Most of them were being used to block and divert traffic by the looks of it

[@georgec4917]

I drove doubles and triples for 30 years, how did that trailer manage to tip over?

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

I don't know - my guess would be speed and maybe load shift? Thanks for watching!

[@TheWilmingtonRailfan]

At 5:00 command requests an "additional medic for a pedestrian that appears to be at fault." I wonder if someone walked out in front of the driver while he was making a left turn and he cut the wheel tighter to attempt to miss them? That would be enough to make the second trailer unstable.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@TheWilmingtonRailfan that's what I thought I heard so I listened to it a few times, i think they were saying the other injured pedestrian was "a fall" I doubt the fire department cares who is at fault at that point anyway

[@snarflatful]

So, how did it happen?

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Unsure - my guess is speed + maybe a load shift?

[@golfandhike5598]

Anyone know how the trailer flipped over?

[@HighwayLand]

truck driver was pulling doubles, took the left turn to fast and the back trailer flipped over.

[@bobh6728]

@@HighwayLand the top left of the trailer was damaged. Did something hit him to flip it? The other thing that could have happened is the driver hit the brakes hard while in the turn. That causes the back trailer to run over the dolly.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@bobh6728 you drive them? I have pulled a trailer on a dolly behind a straight truck about 2000km but that was the first and last time I drove it so I wouldn't call myself experienced. I kinda figured that was possible that a hard brake in a turn would jacknife the dolly.

[@bobh6728]

@@juliogonzo2718 I drove milk truck for a while and saw the aftermath of a double milk tanker flip its back trailer. The truck was exiting a freeway and turned left at the end of the ramp to cross over the freeway and go to the dairy. The driver hit his brakes on the bridge and the back trailer essentially kept going straight flipped. The lid of the tanker hit the bridge railing and popped it open and about 4000 gallons of milk dumped on the freeway. This was at a very low speed. This was about 1994.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@bobh6728 the one I drove was a fuel tanker. I picked it up at the body manufacturer brand new and delivered it to our location. It was to be my truck but I changed jobs before I ever drove it loaded. The dolly was air ride and pitched forward when you hit the brakes. It was wiggly enough empty, I can't imagine it with fuel sloshing side to side. It was actually a failed plan, they ended up just pulling the pup trailer with a highway tractor anyway. Oh and a week after I had quit it threw a rod through the oil pan 😂 I dodged multiple bullets leaving

[@WangBaiTe]

Waht casused this accident? Trucker went too fast into that corner?

[@0524cami]

I can't believe how stupid people are to continue to drive thru the scene without any regard to public safety

[@jb6712]

LEO was directing traffic that was already there, but the big fire engine was also positioned to prevent left turns into the scene. The police couldn't very well just have all traffic stop right at the scene and hold them there; all those vehicles would have impeded the rescue and righting operation, so logically they had to get the cars out of there. They sure aren't going to pick up each vehicle with a Huey helicopter and drop it on the other side of the incident!

[@mow4ncry]

It took a real wheel holder to turn that trailer over as far as I can see

[@eligebrown8998]

I know that has to be sheer pain but they are lucky to not get crushed. Hopefully they recover.

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Yeah, it could have been a lot worse for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@Og-Judy]

Whoops. Guessing the trucker cornered to fast.

[@twelveorless]

Why so may firefighters respondend to this scene?

[@largol33t1]

My god, how did the trailer tip over in the first place??

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Not sure, maybe speed and/or load shift?

[@cdarting91]

Were they seriously winching on the trailer dolly???

[@juliogonzo2718]

Kinda looks like it. Apparently it worked. Not sure why they wouldn't hook to the holes in the kingpin plate on the front of the trailer. I guess it kept the dolly straight

[@chope6786]

It looks like there’s a big gouge out of the left side of that overturned trailer. Almost like something impacted it and pushed it over. But I can’t imagine what that would be. Mystery overturn. Maybe just turning speed.

[@craigpennington1251]

WOW! These guys will put you to sleep in seconds.

[@douglastodd1947]

Dispatch,,, man in P/up truck trapped under Truck Trailer on its side. what was it a toy p/up . was he not looking at the monitor ..?

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Dispatch is in a different department from the people who control the traffic cameras, so they're just going off what was reported by the 911 callers. I wonder if it almost landed on a pickup and the caller thought it did based on where they were standing?

[@geraldhuntington9531]

I hope the bread is ok

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

If you ever see a weirdly squished loaf at the store, that's probably why... thanks for watching!

[@petewilliamsiv3512]

i was in Long beach Wash St for Vacation and getting ready to Pack too to come home & watching some of this on the Cams like you were too

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

I hope you had a good trip!

[@petewilliamsiv3512]

@@SeattleTrafficCams :) i should have had a great one

[@stephen161995]

google maps has the same company at the same junction just a differnt truck

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Hah, nice find. It makes sense, since their bakery is pretty close by.

[@alejandroglez2275]

Porque tantos vehiculos de emergencia???

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

They have different roles - some to help lift the truck, some to help treat the patient, some in case there is fire, etc.

[@andrewswan6859]

Nice job brother

[@SeattleTrafficCams]

Thanks Andrew - I appreciate it!

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

I'm surprised the fire department doesn't keep a heavy duty crane truck for this. I have been watching those recovery vehicle videos and these guys usually have a big tow truck that's about the size of a firetruck or semi that has this big crane and outrigger and can lift massive vehicles like this. They are always called in for picking vehicles off the highway. You'd think ems would keep a few in their own fleet

[@hometownmedic7355]

Yeah, so that would be a million dollar truck that would get used once, twice a year. There are paramedics, not emts but medics still being paid in the teens per hour. We DO NOT need a million dollar parade truck. We need education, professional standards, and the wages that go with them.

[@potatoesindrag4095]

@@hometownmedic7355 Logic flaw, a lot of major cities have started using heavy rescue rigs (rotator and 30 tons) tow rigs. One cuts down on responds time for roll overs, and prevent having a untrained tow operator on scene until its clear and safe. Having a 30 ton, and 50 ton rotator would speed up semi wrecks and allow them to move the trailer or truck or whatever over if need and open lanes. Not matter of price, hell we spend 3.2 million new hazmat truck last year in Settle, been used 4 times. Yes, EMT, first responders should be paid more, along with teachers, you won't get an argument from me, use to be in law enforcement. But having right tools for the job is key to keeping everyone safe.

[@hometownmedic7355]

@@potatoesindrag4095 So a lot of cities have more money than brains and want fancy parade trucks? You don't say.... If every city jumped off a cliff, should yours go with them? Agree to disagree. I would much rather work in a commercial chassis ambulance and take home more money than an F body Horton budgetfucker 5000 with three different stair chairs and voice activated climate controls at a half million per.

[@steve1978ger]

@@hometownmedic7355 - well, maybe both?

[@hometownmedic7355]

@@steve1978ger Sure, sign me up. If we could get Cadillac healthcare and a nice pension also, you know, while we're dreaming and all.

[@showtruck2102]

5Fps

[@rildain76]

“Rescue 1, okay.” That’s not typical radio etiquette. Nonchalant bordering on unprofessional. Sounds very weird.

[@kentcarter835]

Quick jerbear....give us your resume and tell us why it's unprofessional.....🤣🤣🤣

[@jednick]

Unless you're operating under some really old-school regulations, that's not unusual or unprofessional.

[@jadenjacobs8667]

Not all departments use 10 codes dude lol

[@chipmunktubetop]

This is right outside my home! OMG!!!

[@frankhofmann6935]

Yeahm..Station 19 in action!

[@fdjcengine2]

I heard the guy that got hurt has filed 42 lawsuits in the past 2 1/2 years. Someone said he told a friend that he won't stop suing until he's rich. When the friend asked him how much dough he would need to consider himself rich, He said a truck load of bread should be enough.

[@TimmieVD]

American fire department: a person is under a truck, send the tower ladder!

[@pdxmark77]

Because the ladder trucks carries equipment they might need for a call like this, They don’t send it out simply because there’s a ladder on it. Dispatch will automatically assign a ladder truck or two to the scene. Plus, it’s also good for blocking the scene. They typically will almost always send out a ladder truck.

[@joop1991]

3:15 Why did a huge ladder show up? Someone is trapped UNDERNEATH a truck, not on top of a building 🤣

[@kentcarter835]

For manpower, ignoramus.

[@Kishanth.J]

Enter to have things in case then wait for them when needed.

[@pdxmark77]

Ladder trucks carries equipment that they might need. That’s why they send it out on calls like this.

[@joop1991]

@@pdxmark77 Ah okay. I didn't know that. In the Netherlands ladder trucks are just ladders on wheels so they only call them when you need the ladder itself.

[@tvb3265]

Rescue 1 okay

[@NameNaameNameeNaamee]

I am always baffled by the chaotic fashion american emergency response are operating in, be it police, firefighters, they just seem to react randomly to any call (or not), it seems to be completely random in what numbers they emerge and they all seem to act under the blueprint "let's get there and ...well...we'll see...". And then they get there and do...something. That complete lack of ressource management and coordination is just...weird. With over 7 units on site, no one managed to close down that intersection, there is no security, nothing, just people running from left to right through flowing traffic, talking into their radios while probably not even knowing who they are talking to and who is listening to them... The traffic literally only stopped, since every unit just parked "ANYWHERE" until the intersection was no longer passable. I mean, you CAN do it like that, then again, no response vehicle that actually might NEED to get through urgently can actually pass. It doesn't seem to be too rare, that police and firefighters turn against each other in these types of situations either, getting angry at each other who is to move his/her vehicle....On other occasions, the police will happily chase a car on the freeway with 15 or 20 units and a chopper up top, endangering everyone around them for half an hour straight before anyone get's the bright idea to call someone who already is AHEAD of where they are going and block the way. I have no idea if that sort of approach works out in day to day life, but it certainly is not fast and can not be an effective way of allocating and using ressources available. At least that's how it looks like from the outside (yes, the outside is an armchair, you got me!...). Still, if anyone has any insight on how or even if stuff like that get's managed in the US, I would be happy to be let in on that secret they are trying so hard to hide in public :D

[@iamReddington]

I will never understand why buses need to be connected to a grid system. They are buses, not trains or trollies.

[@aguadelsur]

Number of firetrucks is ridiculous

[@theantichrist6524]

Why did the firefighter pull a hose .

[@keegangidley2071]

It literally says why in the video

[@dchawk81]

Same reason they sent a hook and ladder and 400 command trucks. Dispatch miscommunicates.

[@elijahverney4686]

no dispatch miscommunication, fluids leaking out of truck+power tools and all the other potential ignition sources=fire is why.